For years, the two big issues plaguing Walker Park have been fish kills and geese feces splattered along the walkway around the pond.
The city seems to have solved the fish kill problem by restoring the fountain pump and stocking the pond with algae-eating Tilapia.
Since taking those steps last year, there haven't been scores of dead fish floating at the top and stinking up the area as had been the case the previous several summers.
Problem solved.
However, the geese issue still lingers and requires a Plan B.
The city thought the "Away With Geese" devices would shoo away the pesky water fowl and eliminate the foul mess they leave behind.
And it seemed to work -- temporarily.
"I think we're ahead of schedule," Parks and Recreation Director Elroy Brown said a few weeks after the devices were installed. "They have worked amazingly. You can walk down the sidewalk (without stepping in geese feces)."
"We've had a lot of positive comments about the thinning out of the geese and about the smell," he added. "It's noticeable that you can walk down the sidewalk and you don't have to dodge every other step. We're pretty thankful that the Away With Geese device does work."
At the time, Brown estimated 50-75 percent had moved on to a different location.
Well, the celebration may have been premature.
It seems the geese have adapted to the amber colored light that is supposed to disrupt their sleeping pattern and force them to move to a new location.
The devices aren't working any longer, evidenced by the large number still leaving their droppings all over the place at Walker Park.
It's time to either come up with another idea to force them to migrate elsewhere or pressure wash the area a few times a week.
Some cities have rounded up their geese and gassed them, infuriating wildlife groups.
Others have unleashed skilled hunters to tackle the problem. This area is rife with sportsmen who would likely be willing to offer their assistance.
I'm sure that method would draw a little pushback as well and stir up some safety concerns with the pond being so close to residential neighborhoods.
Some places have gone with methods that all can agree are humane.
A few have used Border Collies to chase the geese away, but that doesn't really seem like a long-term solution. Obviously, there is no easy answer.
If folks could fight the urge to feed them, that would certainly help.
Although, a moratorium or permanent ban on feeding the Walker Park water fowl would probably meet resistance and be difficult to enforce.
Most likely, getting rid of the geese will take some creativity and trial and error.
But it must be done because the droppings are a health hazard.
On Monday, one couldn't walk along the concrete path around the pond without stepping on feces. The walkway was covered, just as it was last week. It's a continuous problem.
While there has been progress in cleaning up Walker Park over the last several months, the geese issue still lingers and counteracts the positive programs.
It's time to come up with a plan that works.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com