Parks

• Weed spraying will begin the week of May 27, 2024, for shrub beds and hardscape areas (non-living areas such as parking lots and other hard surfaces) in several locations across town. Please read about our integrated management approach for more information.
• The perimeter of the Sunshine Lake stormwater management facility will be sprayed with a herbicide for Purple Loosestrife the week of July 22, weather dependent. Residents are advised to stay off the area until signs are removed.

The park spaces in town are split into three different categories:

• Priority 1 areas which include parks, trail corridors, and boulevards are mowed once every 7 - 10 business days with areas that cannot be reached with our larger mowing equipment, such as along fence lines, trimmed by hand every 3 to 4 weeks.
• Priority 2 areas which include highway buffers, and undeveloped park space are mowed twice a season.
• Naturalized areas are not mowed.

Homeowner Responsibility

• You are responsible to keep the grass on your property cut to 6 inches (15 cm) or less. 

• Boulevards adjacent your property are your responsibility to maintain.
• If you have a fire hydrant or power box on your property, you are responsible to cut the grass around it.

View the Community Standards Bylaw for more information. 

Outdoor facilities around Morinville require maintenance and general housekeeping on a regular basis, our team works to ensure they are ready for residents enjoyment. This includes regular garbage collection, cleaning and stocking of outdoor washrooms, and repair or removal of vandalism.

 The Outdoor Multi-Sport Facility is prepared for use each season, this includes preparation of the concrete surface and basketball nets for warmer months and creation and maintenance of the ice surface during colder months. Weekly scheduled maintenance of the ice surface in the colder months is weather dependent.

Playground equipment is inspected by our team monthly and a certified annual audit is completed externally to ensure it is safe for use. Our team ensures the cleanliness of our playgrounds by removing litter, broken glass, and by removing or repairing vandalism.

To check on field conditions and closures visit our Parks and Facilities Map

• Shale baseball diamonds are "floated" regularly to ensure they have a level infield.
• Field markings are painted on both soccer and baseball diamonds.
• General maintenance and repairs to field surfaces are completed as needed.

Our annual tree program includes the planting of new trees and the maintenance of all existing trees. The placement of new trees is determined by several factors:

• Availability of appropriate species
• Resident feedback
• Removal of existing trees
• Utility locations in boulevards
• Highest impact areas
• Budget

Maintenance of existing trees includes:

• Removal of overhanging branches and damaged trees
• Watering
• Pruning and removal of diseased or damaged trees

 Management of diseased trees:

  Black Knot Disease

• Is a fungal disease that causes greenish brown to black swellings, it commonly affects trees in the Prunus family. It can disrupt tree growth and possibly kill affected trees.
• Removal of diseased trees or branches is best completed between late fall and early spring when trees are dormant.
• Remove diseased branches 15-20 cm below the knot, it best to prune branches back to the next branch or trunk rather than leave a stub.
• Sterilize your tools between each cut using bleach to prevent further spread.

• Diseased wood should be burned, buried, or bagged. Do not place branches in your organics bin, diseased wood sealed in a plastic bag may be placed in your waste cart.

Black knot is not regulated through any legislation. It is a native plant disease that is well established throughout the province.

All landowners are required by law to abide by the Weed Control Act and manage species listed in the Weed Control Regulation, this includes municipal land. We maintain turf areas for broadleaf weeds, and gravel areas for all weeds and grass. This is part of an integrated management approach ensuring the health and integrity of vegetated infrastructure for your safety and enjoyment. 

Please report sightings of noxious weeds. 

Our integrated management approach includes:

• Spraying sports fields with herbicides to reduce weed growth. Spraying will occur on specific turf and gravel locations throughout Morinville, these locations may change throughout the season.

• Weather permitting, weeds are sprayed in June and July. Signs will be posted at the entrances of treatment areas. Signs will be removed once the product is dry or after 24 hours, as directed by the product manufacturer. Please respect the signs and do not remove or damage them. If possible, take an alternate route to avoid traveling through treatment areas when signs are posted. It is recommended that pets and people do not contact turf while it is wet from treatment.

• Only herbicides that target plants will be used, such as Par III and Glyphosate. These products manage weeds in turf and leave the turf unharmed or manage all plant species in gravel areas. All products used are regulated and approved by Health Canada. All applications will be conducted in accordance with federal and provincial legislation. The products do not harm insects or wildlife.

• Physical removal as required.

 Purple Loosestrife

• Is a noxious weed, and is subject to the Weed Control Act.
• Commonly found around bodies of water such as our storm water ponds.
• Attempts to remove this weed include physical removal by our team and herbicide application.

    Foxtail Barley

• Is a native species, so it is not subject to the Weed Control Act.
• It thrives in warm, dry weather and can quickly take over areas.
• Mowing or pulling the plant by hand is the most effective way to prevent foxtail from spreading and going to seed.
• Typically goes to seed in August
• The sharp, barbed seed heads are dangerous to animals as they can latch onto their fur and skin or be inhaled
• Stay cautious, particularly in the later summer months, when using parks and trails with your pets

Homeowner Responsibility

• You are responsible to remove noxious weeds from your property.