Show Me Yards

Public Works
operates and manages the Engineering Division, Street Division, Traffic Division and Protective Inspection Division; Public Transportation; Columbia Regional Airport; Sanitary Sewer Utility; Parking Utility; Solid Waste Utility; Storm Water Utility; Custodial and Building Maintenance Services; and Fleet Operations.

Show-Me Yards & Neighborhoods (SMYN)

Show Me Yards and Neighborhoods

Available to residential or business lawns, SMY&N offers alternatives to the traditional lawn care practices that contribute to runoff of contaminants and excess nutrients; eventually these nutrients wind up in our streams. SMY&N originated in Florida several years ago when polluted runoff from yards and other urban areas began to affect the Everglades. Springfield, Missouri successfully adopted SMY&N three years ago in an effort to protect city drinking water and nearby Ozark streams. Now Columbia is introducing SMY&N.

In addition to raising awareness of polluted runoff from lawns, solutions and recognition incentives will be provided for homeowners, lawn care providers and neighborhoods that put the practices to work.

Why Is This Fish Smiling?

Because Show-Me Yards and Neighborhoods Means Cleaner Streams for Everyone!

Consider:

installing a rain garden
using a rain barrel
mowing your grass taller (3.5 to 4 inches)
allowing clover to “fix” nitrogen in your lawn
getting a soil test before you apply unnecessary fertilizers which may wash into the streams!

Also, consider having a “good enough lawn” instead of aiming for a golf-course look. It doesn’t have to look perfect to be healthy and still meet the needs of your family.

Workshops will be held for interested citizens and lawn care companies every Fall and Spring. Watch for details!

Sponsored by a joint effort through Boone County, the City of Columbia, University of Missouri and University Extension, and the Hinkson Creek Restoration Project.

Show-Me Yards and Neighborhoods logo created by Americorps members.