Recycling and Waste Minimization Contributing Departments Water & Waste 99% Corp. Support Services
Includes: • Park Grass Maintenance • Park Amenity Maintenance • Athletic Field Maintenance • Park Pathway Maintenance • Park Planning / Development • Tree Planting • Tree Pruning & Removal (non-DED) Parks and Urban Forestry • Dutch Elm Disease Control (DED) • Weed Control • Natural Areas Management • Playground Management • Winter Amenity Maintenance • Boulevard Maintenance Service Overview DESCRIPTION To enhance the quality <strong>of</strong> life for citizens and visitors by providing services that focus on maintenance, preservation and stewardship <strong>of</strong> parks, open spaces, the urban forest and natural areas. This service includes park, boulevard, & open space maintenance, litter collection; athletic field maintenance; pathway maintenance; park planning & development (shared with Planning, Property and Development); tree planting, pruning, removal; Dutch Elm Disease control (inspection, removal, disposal, public education); weed control (inspection, serving <strong>of</strong> weed notices); natural areas management (replanting <strong>of</strong> native species, controlled burns, native & invasive species monitoring, education); playground equipment inspection & repair; winter amenity maintenance (knock-down hockey rinks, pleasure skating rinks/ponds, toboggan slides/hills, park pathway snow clearing, cross-country ski trails and speed skating oval maintenance). KEY GOALS 1. Maintain and improve parks, athletic fields, playgrounds and related amenities to meet community leisure needs and interests. 2. Provide natural environment and conservation education. 3. Preserve and enhance natural areas across the <strong>City</strong>’s park and open space system. 4. Protect and enhance the urban forest through effective tree care practices and replacement planting. 5. Invest strategically in new and existing infrastructure. SERVICE LEVEL STATISTICS Description 2005 2006 2007 Number <strong>of</strong> park and open space sites 970 1003 1008 Total hectares <strong>of</strong> parks and open spaces 4,196 4,210 4,251 Hectares <strong>of</strong> park and boulevard turf mowing 2,384 2,395 2,425 Park pathways/walkways maintained 706,540 m 2 708,540 m 2 708,540 m 2 Number <strong>of</strong> environmental program participants 6,895 7,850 7,916 Ecologically Significant Natural Areas 354 360 382 Number <strong>of</strong> athletic fields 594 601 642 Number <strong>of</strong> weed complaints 2,762 2,310 2,341 Number <strong>of</strong> boulevard and park trees 270,000 280,000 280,000 Number <strong>of</strong> trees planted 754 663 2,183 Number <strong>of</strong> DED trees & non-DED trees removed 3,915/2,205 5,613/3,064 4,065/3,459 Number <strong>of</strong> trees pruned 4,144 18,855 26,054 Number <strong>of</strong> playground equipment sites inspected & maintained (includes toboggan slide & water slide sites) 516 523 550 <strong>Adopted</strong> <strong>2009</strong> <strong>Operating</strong> <strong>Budget</strong> - Service Based 31