Mowing in parks
Mowing in parks
Mowing in parks
Mowing in Calgary Parks kicked off the week of May 4. Regional and community parks and local playfields have received their first and second cut and the first cut of roadside greens is underway.
The large amount of precipitation in late May and early June is expected to delay mowing activities. Grass must be dry to ensure it is safe for our staff and that equipment will not damage the turf by sinking into the grass. As soon as the sun is shining, The City will use all available resources to catch up and will redistribute crews to the areas where they are needed most. In communities where the grass is exceptionally long, or still wet from recent rains, crews will complete a first cut and may have to leave the clippings behind to dry out, returning a day or two later to mulch the clippings into smaller pieces. This approach was successful last year to help crews catch up during periods when grass was growing very quickly.
Parks & Open Spaces mow an area equivalent to approximately 7500 CFL football fields during the growing season; comparable to approximately 4000 hectares. Parks greenspaces are mowed at different frequencies depending on how many people use the space and for which types of activities (e.g. playing soccer, picnicking or stopping on the sides of the road when needed).
Mowing frequency – based on type of use:
- Regional parks (larger with more amenities) and playfields (e.g. community soccer and ballfields) are mowed up to 20 times per growing season
- Community parks (smaller, local parks) are mowed up to 10 times per growing season
- Playfields (community soccer fields and ball diamonds) are mowed up to 20 times per growing season
- Roadside greens (next to major roadways) are mowed up to four times per growing season
Do all communities get mowed at the same time?
Calgary has a variety of sub-climates meaning some communities receive more moisture than others.
Following heavy rain, areas will be left to dry before mowing to avoid damage to the turf by heavy mowing equipment that can sink into the ground. Drier conditions result in less frequent mowing as the growth of grass slows.
Roadside greens
Roadside greens, also known as “road boulevards,” are typically greenspaces next to major roadways and other transportation infrastructure. Parks & Open Spaces oversees the maintenance of approximately 765 hectares of boulevards. Some road boulevards are maintained by the Alberta Government (e.g. along Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail).
We remove litter, repair areas damaged over the winter months, remove noxious weeds and mow these areas four times a year starting in the spring and ending in the fall.
