The Park Board has already implemented COVID-19 temporary changes that decrease mowing frequencies in certain areas, but Demers wants the impact of the interim practices tracked for the establishment of permanent protocols with incremental targets.
In his motion, Demers argues cutting down the scope of maintenance work could reduce the Park Board’s operational costs, and lower the noise and greenhouse gas emissions from the usage of engined mowing equipment.
He also suggests that long grassy areas could provide more habitats and food sources for birds and insects.
According to Demers, the Park Board deems about 300 hectares (741 acres) of the 1,360 hectares (3,361 acres) of Vancouver’s parks and open spaces to be non-irrigated areas with limited or no mowing. Approximately 100 hectares (247 acres) are high-use, irrigated turf on soil or sand, 484 hectares (1,196 acres) are high-use, non-irrigated turf, and about one hectare (2.5 acres) are “meadows” that are mowed high and irregularly.