Mowing in parks

Mowing in parks

Mowing in parks

Calgary continued to receive a lot of rain in August. This meant we had many days where the turf was too saturated to be mowed. The volume of grass has also surpassed what we normally see in our park spaces at this time of year. Extremely thick grass may take more than one pass to cut which can increase the amount of time it takes to mow a single park, playfield or roadside. Crews worked hard to coordinate which areas required the most resources to keep up with the quickly growing grass.

The seventh mowing cycle for regional and community parks is in progress and anticipated to be complete around mid-September with our target remaining to complete the cycle in 14 days. The third mowing cycle for roadside greens (next to major roadways) is in progress and is expected to be completed within the target of 28 days per cycle, roughly around the end of September.

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.

Regional
Community parks
Playfields
Roadside greens
View the full infographic
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