Parks and Green Spaces Information Hub

City of Yorkton's Approach to Weed Control
The City is committed to using the least toxic control methods wherever possible to control weeds and pests. The City maintains the health of sports fields and the turf in our parks to make these areas more resistant to weeds and to reduce the need for pesticides.

  Parks uses established cultural turf practices (e.g., mowing, fertilizing and irrigation where available) to improve the condition of turf areas.

  Aeration and topdressing are also applied to turf.

However, we do spray the following areas:
  Select medians
  Sports fields, including ball designated ball diamonds and soccer pitches

We do not spray the following areas:
   Playgrounds and City Parks
   Residential areas

We have adopted a chemical-free approach, and as part of this initiative, we do not spray residential areas, playgrounds, and parks. Instead, we have increased the frequency of grass cutting to effectively manage weed control in these areas. 

Sports Fields
Our higher level playing soccer pitches, located at
    Logan Green receive regular spray for weeds as part of an integrated tuff management system.

Our competitive level ball diamonds, located at
   Jubilee Park receive the highest level of maintenance.

These systems include:
   Irrigation
  Aeration
  Fertilization
  Weed control

Dandelions 
Dandelions, along with foxtail barley, meadow goat's beard,Russian thistle and quack grass, are considered a nuisance weed commonly found in Saskatchewan.

Nuisance weed means any plant that is designated by order of the minister as a noxious week, and includes the seeds or any other part of that plant that may grow to produce another plant.

We cut grass following Yorkton City's standards, prioritizing each area. 

1) Sports Fields
2) Parks and Play Areas
3) Beautification Areas
4) Ditches and Buffers
5) Tax Title Property and Maintenance Agreements

  High traffic park and play areas are cut on a weekly basis, typically on Thursdays and Fridays. 

  Low traffic parks, play areas and beautification areas are cut every 10-12 days; weather depending and the maintenance schedule of the fleet equipment

  Weather influences grass growth, considering factors like rainfall and temperature. Adjustments to grass cutting are made based on growth speed. Despite low rainfall, cutting standards remain constant due to the need for weed control in our Integrated Pest Management Program.

  The land next to the railway tracks is not public; it's privately owned. The responsibility for maintaining the grass lies with the property owner, who is notified by the City when maintenance is needed.

There is approximately 500 acres of grass that needs to be maintained within city limits. More than 300 acres is maintained by City staff; which includes parks, open spaces, beautification areas and the natural environment. The remaining 200 acres is maintained by contractors.

  Did you know? Our current grass cutting fleet includes 6 large riding mowers, 3 push mowers and 4 whip operators.

Amenity Lighting StandardsSilver Heights Park
  All park spaces and outdoor recreation facilities include lights on photocells and timers.
Photocells sense the sunlight. When the photocells senses a lack of sunlight, the lights will turn on.
The timers for the lights are set to shut off for the evening at 10:30 p.m.

Park RentalsMovie in the Park
  Parks are available to be used for private or public events.
  There is no cost to rent a park, however fees may be charged for special requests and services.
The park rental process is to ensure any maintenance is completed in advance and not during your event.
  Parks cannot be closed to the public during an event.

If you are interested in hosting your event in a park, please complete our application below.

Spray ParksUkrainian Pioneer Park
There are 3 spray parks located at:
   Silver Heights Park
   Ukrainian Pioneer Park
   Weinmaster Park
Equipped with timers and push button switches that turn the water features on and off to conserve water.
  Available 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Spray park water features turn on for the summer season the Friday before May Long Weekend, weather permitting.
They close for winter the Tuesday after September Long Weekend, weather permitting.

Inspections and cleaning are completed weekly.
  Monthly maintenance involves the use of a cleaning solution to eliminate any mold residue that may have accumulated on the concrete surface

PlaygroundsWeinmaster Park
There are 8 playgrounds located at:
  Heritage Heights Park
  Jackson Park
  Knights of Columbus Park
  SIGN Park
  Silver Heights Park
  Tupper Park
  Waterloo Park
  Weinmaster Park
Weekly grass cutting is completed at all Parks.
Weekly inspections are completed at playgrounds. We can't be everywhere all the time, so let us know if something is wrong.

Tennis CourtsHeritage Heights Park
There are 3 tennis courts located at:
  Heritage Heights Park
  Knights of Columbus Park
  Western Development Museum
Nets are placed for the summer season the first weekend of May, weather permitting.
Nets are removed for the winter season the last weekend of September, weather permitting.

Outdoor Rinks/Basketball CourtsKnights of Columbus Park 
There are 5 outdoor rinks/basketball courts located at:
  Heritage Heights Park
  Knights of Columbus Park
  Silver Heights Park
  Ukrainian Pioneer Park
  Weinmaster Park
Outdoor rinks and basketball courts are the same facility with asphalt, boards and netting around the facility.
Learn more about our Rinks and the process we follow!

Toboggan HillsRodney Ridge Park
There are 4 toboggan hills located at:
  Weinmaster Park - Beginner
  Knights of Columbus Park - Novice
  Deer Park - Intermediate
  Rodney Ridge Park - Advanced

Beginner = a person just learning to toboggan
Novice = a person inexperienced with tobogganing
Intermediate = more advanced tobogganer but not an expert
Advanced = an expert at tobogganing

There is a hill for every toboggan enthusiast and their skill level!

Mosquito Control
The Culex Tarsalis species of mosquito is known to be the highest potential risk of transmitting the West Nile virus. The Culex Tarsalis seems to be most active in the mid to late summer months; however, protection should be on-going.

Female mosquitoes bite for a blood meal which allows them to lay eggs. Eggs may stay dormant for years. When there is sufficient water the eggs will hatch, continuing the cycle of mosquitoes. Large bodies of water such as Yorkton's Jaycee Beach and the Ravine Ecological Preserve do not have a lot of mosquitoes as the water is too deep. Eggs are laid in shallow areas of standing water.

To monitor and track adult populations, the City along with Saskatchewan Public Health have light traps set up in two locations of the City to count and forecast trends for future management strategies.

Gophers and Moles
The City of Yorkton controls gophers on City property. In the early spring gophers are baited with a product called Rozol or smoke bombs that are placed down the gopher holes.

For moles, mole traps are used and checked by staff daily.

Click below for more information about integrated pest control management.

Lighting Standards
  All pathways have lights on photocells.
Photocells sense the sunlight. When the photocells senses a lack of sunlight, the lights will turn on.
The lights will be on from dusk until dawn.

Snow Removal 
We prioritize tasks, with Cemetery Operations as the top priority, followed by recreation facilities.
After addressing these priorities, we focus on the third priority, which is snow removal on pathways.
  Normally, snow is cleared within 48 hours of a major snowfall.

Commemorative Bench Program 
You can adopt a park bench or tree in memory of a loved one, to dedicate to a friend or family member, or to commemorate a special event.
Benches are located in parks, on pathways, or elsewhere upon the approval from the City.

Urban Forest
   Urban Forestry involves the maintenance and care of trees and shrubs in urban areas. These green elements, collectively known as the "urban forest," contribute significantly to a community's well-being. They offer various benefits, including shade, beauty, wildlife habitat, and landmarks, reflecting community pride. Unfortunately, urban forests face challenges such as disease, vandalism, climate issues, and neglect, leading to their decline across North America.

To address these challenges, it is crucial to focus on preserving the urban forest as a valuable civic asset. Doing so will not only benefit current residents and visitors but will also leave a positive legacy for future generations. The benefits of maintaining urban forests include:
  improved air and water quality
  reduced erosion impact
  temperature regulation
  energy conservation
  noise reduction
  visual screening

By recognizing and addressing these advantages, communities can foster a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.

City Tree or Homeowners?
Using a City of Yorkton street offset map, the Urban Forestry team will complete a site inspection.
  The site inspection will include measuring the offset from the curb or inside edge of the sidewalk to determine if the tree in question is on public or private property.
The offset is a buffer of land between public property and private property.
If the tree is on public property, the City will coordinate appropriate maintenance needed for that tree.
Trees that are located on the offset are maintained by the City.
If the tree is on private property, it will be up to the property owner to coordinate maintenance of the tree either on their own or through a private contractor.

Need help determining if a tree is public or private? Request a tree assessment.

More information on the City of Yorkton's Trees and how they are maintained can be found in the Urban Forestry Bylaw.

Pruning
Young trees are pruned to improve structural strength, reduce costly maintenance in the future and to increase their longevity.
Mature trees are pruned to eliminate hazards, provide clearance and maintain health. 
  Elm trees undergo pruning on a 5-year cycle, taking place between October and March.
  For other tree species, pruning occurs throughout the year, specifically from April to September.
The pruning process is organized into designated zones 

Tree Planting
  Planting is typically done in the fall with 5’-6’ trees.
However, we are flexible and also plant trees in the spring to accommodate any emerging projects.
This initiative aims not only to replace any trees that may have died or been removed but also to ensure long-lasting environmental, communal, social, and economic benefits.
We are dedicated to establishing a resilient and diverse tree population throughout the city for the well-being of future generations.

Trees are planted on:

• City properties
• Parks and green spaces
• Boulevards
• Medians
• City off-sets
  
  

Mulch
Mulch is any material, organic or inorganic, applied to the soil surface in a layer around a tree about 7.5 to 10 cm deep.
Mulch has many benefits:

• It reduces surface moisture evaporation;
• It creates a physical barrier that prevents weed growth;
• It prevents wind and water erosion of soil;
• It reduces soil compaction and prevents mud or rain splash on tree trunks;
• It can prevent damage from lawnmowers and string trimmers;
• In the spring, a layer of mulch lessens plant damage caused by alternating freezing and thawing conditions; and
• In summer, mulch can cool the soil which promotes growth.

Trees should have a large mulched area that extends past the tree's root system. The mulch area should extend out as far as the tree is tall. Leave a “mulch –free” area 3 cm around your tree's trunk to discourage small rodents from chewing on the lower bark.

A mulch pile is located:
  beside the YUFC Clubhouse between Gladstone Avenue South and Street (beside Yorkdale School). 

Tree WormsFall Cankerworm

Cankerworms
Both the spring and fall cankerworm are about 2.5 cm long when fully grown. They range in color from light green to brownish green with a dark stripe down the back.
Cankerworms leave small holes in the new leaves. As the cankerworm larvae eats, the holes become larger until only the leaf veins remain. During high populations, cankerworms can also completely strip trees of their leaves.
To prevent adult cankerworms, use a product like Tanglefoot to band your trees before larval cankerworms become an issue. Banding should be done by mid-March for spring cankerworms and by mid-September (or before the first frost) for fall cankerworms. Encourage neighbours to band their trees too, as cankerworms can travel on their silken threads. Remove the band by the end of June to prevent bark rot.

Forest Tent CaterpillarsForest Tent Caterpillars
The adults are tan coloured moths, with two thin dark, parallel oblique lines or one single, broad, dark band crossing the middle of the front wings.
The mature larvae are 45-55mm long and are bluish to brownish in colour with diamond-shaped white spots on the middle of the back of each segment. It has two thin prominent broken yellow lines that extend along each side of its hairy body.
Forest tent caterpillar larvae feed initially on the opening buds, later consuming parts of or whole leaves of broad-leaved deciduous trees and shrubs. During high populations, forest tent caterpillars can completely strip trees and will then feed on the understory shrubs and other vegetation.
To control forest tent caterpillars on smaller trees and shrubs, prune or remove the egg masses in fall or early spring when leaves are absent. After hatching, you can prune or squash young larvae resting on the main stem, especially in the evening or cooler nights.

  Healthy trees should grow back their leaves 2-3 weeks after defoliation, or by early July depending on the year. However, their growth is slower and they are less able to fight potential new diseases and other insect attacks.

The City of Yorkton has a tree worm control program in place. In early spring, and at the first sighting of tree worms, the Parks Division begins preparations for the spraying of City owned trees. The initial spraying uses a product called Dipel, which contains the active ingredient BTK. This product must be ingested by the worm, and is sprayed onto the leaves of the tree while the larvae are feeding. In years of heavy infestation, a second spraying may be required. In the case of a second application a product called Pounce is used, which contains the active ingredient permethrin. This is a contact insecticide and starts working on the worms immediately. The City does not spray trees on private property.

Aphids
Aphids are small, pear-shaped insects, around 2m.m. in length, usually pale green but can be various colours. Aphids attack different plants, common on trees like American elm and Manitoba maple in Yorkton's urban forest. 

While their damage usually doesn't harm plant health, it can impact leaf shape and size. Aphids produce honeydew, a sticky substance that may stick to sidewalks and vehicles.

Generally, aphids don't always need insecticides. Some insecticides are available for aphid control; follow the label instructions. Ladybird beetles (ladybugs) can also be used to control aphids in certain situations.