Parks Maintenance Spring Update

Winter cleanup

The first thing on our to-do list every spring is cleaning up our parks after winter. We’ve removed the boards, gates and safety nettings from our outdoor rinks and most safety precautions such as bales have been removed from our sledding hills. Our staff, when not being shifted to sandbag filling duties in Constance Bay, have also been busy cleaning litter throughout our parks and along our roadsides.

Ball fields

To get our ball parks ready for the new season, our staff have been busy with inspections, necessary fencing repairs and reinstallation of any bleachers that were removed for the winter. We are also turning our irrigation systems back on and checking for leaks.

The infields have been groomed and staff are also doing turf repairs and lip maintenance and hand raking where staffing is available. They are also fertilizing, overseeding, topdressing and aerating the fields. Overseeding and topdressing are our most effective methods of preventing weeds, and aerating the fields reduces compacted soil and promotes healthy turf grass for safe and fun season. Grass cutting is also underway, and we will provide progress reports in future email updates.

Sports fields 

To get our sports fields ready for use, our staff have been busy for the last three weeks. In addition to mowing, staff have been conducting inspections, removing litter and installing waste receptacles. We are cleaning paths that lead to sports fields and any parking lots attached to them. Overseeding, aeration and fertilization continues. Overseeding is an effective method of weed prevention and aeration reduces the amount of compact soil, promoting healthy turf for a safe and fun season. 

Tennis and pickleball courts

Our tennis and pickleball courts are open and ready for your crosscourt winners! Our staff have been busy sweeping all the courts, installing the nets and doing any repairs discovered during inspections.

BMX and skate parks

Our BMX and skate parks are also open. Staff inspected for any deficiencies and required repairs, swept the surfaces, and removed any debris that may have accumulated over the winter.

How residents can help

Most baseball fields are open, and most sports fields are opening today. Should a field remain closed due to weather or other circumstances, we ask you to stay off them for two good reasons. One is your safety; all fields are inspected for divots or trip hazards before they are opened, and closed fields have not been inspected! Second, playing on these fields in wet conditions can compact the soil, hinder water absorption, create aeration problems and force grass roots to work harder to break through the soil. The chance of root disease increases and the quality of the turf decreases. Using the fields before they are ready can lead to increased wear and tear in the goal creases making it more difficult for our crews to maintain.

Notice anything that needs our attention? Please submit an online service request by emailing or calling 3-1-1. Our enhanced Parks Maintenance webpage will make sure this is triaged to the right personnel and is the fastest way to help us get the job done.

What’s next

Expect more from me about grass cutting beyond baseball diamonds and sports fields! Over the coming weeks, I’ll share more about the work our parks maintenance staff are doing to prepare splash pads, wading pools, docks, and beaches for use.