Let the grass grow tall.

The city is looking to save on costs through various means such as sharing services with other agencies, rethinking the management of the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center and even a few little things, such as not mowing the grass at some parks.

Not every park needs to be treated like a manicured golf course. Treat some like scenic meadows.

The best example is Shoff Park. For the past few years it has not been completely mowed. This park actually looks better when the grass on land east of the sidewalk is allowed to grow.

Trails through any tall grass area are more attractive to people looking for a walk in a park than strolling across short grass. Walkers can walk on short grass anywhere. They can’t find trails through a meadow, especially ones with a nice creek down the center.

Shoff Park serves as a beautiful little ecosystem all to itself. Think of the discoveries children make. Frogs, crickets, flowers, butterflies.

In addition, tall grass produces deep roots, which assist with filtering out the unwanted chemicals and fertilizers along local creeks. A lack of riparian conservation is a key reason why Fountain Lake turns green some summers.

It’s worth mentioning that the existing lakefront wetlands will be vital to the lake quality if the land east of the road at the north end of Edgewater Park will become soccer fields. Something will need to filter the fertilizer.

Also, the reeds, cattails and tallgrass at Edgewater Park is scenic, but it was cut flat last autumn following complaints. Fortunately, the little wild spot will return. Sure, the city might get a few complaints from residents who fail to get that parks aren’t supposed look like golf courses, but city officials need some backbone. In places like Minneapolis and Madison, Wis., tallgrass locations in parks are treasured and decorated with interpretive signs, not reviled.

What Albert Lea parks officials could do is look at the areas of parks that are mowed but aren’t used at all and let that land have tallgrass. But here is the key to it all: If Albert Lea going to mow some parts of the parks, it has to plant native species, not just let the existing grass get tall.

Make a plan. Do it right. Be committed.