Parks
update
Spring 2013
Spring is a time of fresh beginnings – a time to get out to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the beauty of our city. In the Parks section, we know how much Red Deerians love their parks, so we’d like to offer you an update for the season.
Plans and projects for 2013 Parks staff invite you to sit back and enjoy the city’s many outdoor spaces. In 2013, we’ll be enhancing your parks through several major projects: • • • • •
Completion of Skate Park at 76 Street and Taylor Drive Completion of Splash Park at the east end of Alexander Way (48 Street) Reopening of trail linking McKenzie Trails and Garden Heights Reopening of trail linking Three Mile Bend to Riverbend Gold Course Replacing the washrooms at Kin Kanyon
Disc golf now offered in Victoria Park Dust off your disc and head out to the new disc golf course, located in the Victoria Park central park site on Allan Street. Disc golf is a fun, free sport that is great for people of all ages. The new Victoria Park course was designed with beginners and intermediate players in mind, but advanced players will also find the course challenging with the reduced pro par designation. The 28-par, nine hole course was possible thanks to funding from the Primary Care Network, development and construction from The City of Red Deer, and community input and participation. Visit www.reddeer.ca/parks to learn more about disc golf in Red Deer.
Put your mark on the parks There are all kinds of ways to show your love for the parks: • • •
Adopt a park Community tree plantings Purchase a memorial bench
Parks update Ecologically friendly yard care Think you need acres of grass and gallons of water for a beautiful yard? Think again! Healthy, natural yards are attractive, and they also save time, money, and water. With a healthy yard, you’ll establish water-conscious, pest-resistant, and wildlife-friendly native plants.The benefits don’t stop there, as you can also implement environmentally friendly lawn care practices, which may include: • • •
Watering efficiently by using a rain barrel, watering in early morning or late evening, and restricting watering to 2-3 cm per week. Cutting conscientiously to maintain a longer lawn height of 6-8 cm, which allows for better water retention and encourages deeper roots. Applying appropriate products, such as ecologically sensitive and organic materials.
Wildlife in the parks Red Deer is filled with a wealth of plant and animal diversity. As we share our outdoor spaces, remember Red Deer’s urban wildlife are not pets – they are self-sufficient animals that can thrive on their own. As a general rule, do not feed wildlife; this can cause dependency on and aggression toward humans, as well as unnatural feeding patterns and overcrowding. For more information on urban wildlife, please visit: Alberta Fish & Wildlife – www.srd.gov.ab.ca Hinterland Who’s Who – www.hww.ca
New Skate Park in Red Deer Construction is currently underway on the city’s second skate park, which will be located at 76 Street and Taylor Drive. The park is scheduled to open this summer, and it will have a variety of features designed especially for Red Deer. Want to learn more? Designs, drawings, and additional information can be found at: www.reddeer.ca/City+Projects/ Projects+and+Initiatives/Skatepark.htm.
Check us out online! Want to learn more about your favourite park? Need to find out what bug is on your tree? We can help! In the Parks section, we’re excited to offer a variety of web pages, which are packed with great information for whatever outdoor activity you’re into. Visit www.reddeer.ca/parks to learn more.
Parks update Special extras at The Oxbows Off Leash Dog Park Add some excitement to your dog’s life with two specialized areas at The Oxbows: the agility area and the passive dog and training area. The agility area offers year-round access to permanent features, including a variety of jumps, a tunnel, and an A-frame ramp. The passive dog and training area is the newest enhancement to the park. It provides a quiet, fenced space where timid dogs can play or where you can teach your dog new skills.You can use this area on a drop-in basis or book it for events and training sessions. Call 403-309-8411 or visit www.reddeer.ca/looknbook for full details.
Weeds in Red Deer Many weeds originate in gardens, where their flowers offer a pretty display. They can actually choke out other plants, though, causing economic and environmental concerns on land and in water. When noxious weeds are found,The City is required to control or eradicate them based on provincial weed legislation. You may hear from us if noxious weeds are found in your area, and we’ll provide you with help to deal with them. For more information, visit the Alberta Invasive Plant Council website at www.invasiveplants.ab.ca.
What is Bronze Leaf disease? Bronze Leaf disease (BLD) is a fungal disease that impacts Swedish columnar aspen and Tower poplar tree species. Diseased leaves will turn dark reddish-brown later in the season, and infected leaves can remain on the tree throughout the winter. If you suspect BLD, your first step is to correctly identify the disease. BLD cannot be controlled by chemicals; it can only be managed by removing leaves, pruning diseased material, and properly disposing of the prunings. Visit www.agric.gov.ab.ca or www.gov.mb.ca and search “bronze leaf disease” to learn more.
Environmentally sensitive mosquito control – for our health, for the environment. To control mosquitoes, The City uses a microbial product called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). This pesticide is approved for use by Health Canada, and we use it selectively to treat the aquatic larval stage of the mosquito life cycle. Bti is non-toxic to other aquatic organisms such as dragonfly larvae and has no detrimental effects on birds, fish, mammals, or other animals. The mosquito control program doesn’t eliminate mosquito populations – it helps reduce them to tolerable levels. It’s part of our approach to dealing with all pest nuisances: it’s called Integrated Pest Management, and it means that we use pesticides sparingly, whether we’re dealing with mosquitoes, tree pests or weeds. We balance the use of chemical pesticides with other control methods, including manual removal of pests where it’s appropriate. We think it’s important for the environment, and for everyone’s health, to keep our use of pesticides to a minimum.
Passionate about parks? So are we! For more information on these or other parksrelated topics, please visit www.reddeer.ca/parks or contact 403-342-8234.