Why do parts of Calgary seem unkempt? It’s a combination of things
If you’ve been noticing walkways, parks and other public spaces in Calgary that seem a bit less maintained than previous years this summer, you’re not imagining things.
Parts of the city are less-kept for a variety of reasons. A very rainy June slowed down landscaping work, the city is in the midst of a reorganization of roles in the parks department, cuts to the budget made as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a shifted focus on naturalizing some areas.
Ward seven councillor Terry Wong said he’s received a number of complaints and concerns about the state of some popular parks and walkways.
"We’ve received calls in particular about the West Hillhurst Community Centre, they’ve got a large ball diamond and park area and the grass hadn’t been mowed in a long time so most recently, we've been called upon to say, you know, kids are really chipping on the grass and that sort of thing. So, that is something that's concerned us and we've, we've spoken about that to parks," he said. "It’s a combination of the reorganization and the contracting issues."
Wong said the city was forced to make some budget cuts that impacted the parks department due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that restoring funding is something that will be reconsidered in the next budget cycle.
"There's two parts of the equation, you know, certainly having an attractive city and manicured city is one part of the equation. The other the other part of the equation is making sure we do in a very environmentally responsible, sustainable sort of way as well," he says.
Sections of Calgary parks and open spaces are being naturalized by reintroducing native plant species with a city goal of restoring 20 per cent of Calgary’s open spaces by 2025.
Naturalization projects are taking place along 16th Avenue N.E., Bridgeland, Memorial Drive and Coach Hill. According to the city, doing so has many benefits including lower maintenance costs, creation of habitat for urban wildlife and a greater ability to respond to extreme weather and climate change.
Wong says the city was forced to make some budget cuts that impacted the parks department due to the COVID-19 pandemic and says restoring that funding is something that will be reconsidered in the next budget cycle.
STRIKING A BALANCE
Dylan Delorenzo recently moved to Calgary from Edmonton and says he’s appreciates the city is trying to strike a balance but also needs to keep the city appealing to draw new people, such as himself, in.
"It’s nice to see nice things but it’s also nice to put the environment first," he said. "Especially coming from Edmonton and other areas Calgary is definitely a bit nicer on that side of things so I think you want to keep that ranking high and your motivation high for the city to look nice."
Longtime Calgary resident Vita Campmann said she’s noticed overgrown grass and weeds throughout parts to the city but says it hasn’t bothered her much.
"I think there is bigger fish we need to fry honesty,” she said. “I mean maybe in the main public part, keep our city looking nice but honestly at least for me anyways it hasn’t been a huge concern I’ve noticed."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.