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Spring is just around the corner, which for millions of Americans will mean bursting forth from hibernation into the lush green spaces of their local public parks and recreational areas. But if your town or city is anything like New York City, playing ball or doing yoga on those crisp blades of enticing grass at the first sign of warmth could also mean inadvertently exposing yourself to unknown levels of the world’s most popular and controversial herbicide, Roundup.

Manufactured by Monsanto, Roundup is routinely doused on public parks throughout New York City, sometimes hundreds of times throughout the year, while few are aware of what is taking place.
Mother Jones’ Anna Lenzer reported a couple of years ago that, in 2011 alone, those who manage the Big Apple’s parks applied Roundup some 500 times throughout the year, the equivalent of about 12 bathtubs full of undiluted chemicals.

Based on a Department of Health report posted on the city’s website, and after several inquiries to city officials, Lenzer was able to determine that Central, Prospect and Riverside Parks — each of these is an iconic New York City park — all receive Roundup treatments throughout the year. Many other parks throughout the city, though not specifically disclosed, are also likely included in the sprayings.

“According to the Department of Health’s report on city pesticide use in 2011, Roundup, the weed-killing key to Monsanto’s agribusiness empire, is the city’s most heavily used liquid herbicide,” wrote Lenzer. “Monsanto’s Roundup brand alone was applied by the city nearly 500 times last year… mostly via the Roundup Ultra formulation, a more concentrated version of the original.”