OLDS — Town council has approved a draft revised policy for town-owned green spaces like parks, playgrounds, boulevards or ditches in the community.
Council gave that approval during its July 10 meeting.
The town’s green spaces policy was last revised and set in 2021.
According to the policy, the purpose of the updated version is to ensure those spaces “are managed in an effective, efficient, and safe manner for public use, reduce or eliminate potential liability claim exposure, provide the public with clear maintenance expectations, provide for more accurate annual budgeting.”
A request for decision in council’s agenda package indicated the revised policy was requested by council “to reflect the realities of adjusted service levels regarding maintenance of green spaces.”
Chief administrative officer Brent Williams told council the policy may still be amended further as council determines the level of service to be provided in areas like sports fields or tree maintenance.
Some of the provisions in the policy include the following:
Maintenance in general
Maintenance of green spaces is weather-dependent and thus, may not take place as scheduled.
When that maintenance does take place, it will be done according to priorities “with the understanding that some green spaces will receive higher priority, based on the profile of the location, function, and amount of user interaction.”
Playgrounds and outdoor facilities will be maintained to meet user demand, as well as to ensure the safety of users and address legislative or liability requirements.
Mowing, flower bed and planter care
According to that policy, sports fields will be mowed on a weekly basis.
Parks, playgrounds, boulevards and other green spaces as well as trails will be mowed on a biweekly basis. The off-leash dog park will be mowed three times a year.
Flower planters and flower beds will be maintained on a monthly basis and shrub beds will be maintained every second year.
However, there are exceptions to that schedule for what the town calls “high visibility amenities.” Those areas will receive a higher level of service than others in their category.
Those areas include town property along Highway 27 as well as Centennial Park.
Pesticide use
If pesticides need to be used, the town will use those that “present the least short and long-term health risk to humans and with the lowest environmental impact by residual effects.”
The town will also maintain a 15-metre pesticide-free zone around all playground apparatus unless the entire area is closed to the public for 12 hours after pesticide application.
Weed control
When it comes to weed control, the priority will be locations that have built recreational facilities such as sports fields and playgrounds. Weed control in other areas may be done if budgets permit doing so.
Trees
The town will strive to conserve existing trees in green spaces. If trees are planted, whenever possible, they will be chosen from a list of tree species native to the area.
If a tree that is located partly on town-owned land and partly on privately-owned land, the policy says the town will “undertake and pay all costs associated with any necessary pruning or removal of trees, the main stem of which are proven to be 50 per cent or greater, on town Lands.”
However, “all trees" main stems which are more than 50 per cent on the private residence are the sole responsibility of the homeowner.”
The town will also maintain “suitable vertical and horizontal clearance on all streets, sidewalks, and trails to achieve a balance between maintaining tree/shrub health or aesthetics, safety, and operational needs.”
“We wanted to get some clear service levels in place for our green spaces and schedule A (of the policy) does that with mowing, weed control and trees,” Williams told councillors.
“As we bring more items to council at service level review — sports fields and trees for example, upcoming items — this policy will be amended to reflect those.”
