The Parks Branch is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of more than 1,000 hectares of the City of Saskatoon parks and civic open spaces. This is accomplished by utilizing horticultural maintenance standards, maintenance contracts and policy development.
The Design Section is involved in the planning, design and development of public lands, which includes all levels of parks, buffers, civic buildings, road rights-of-ways, etc. Responsibilities include planning, estimating and administration of the capital budgets, conceptual and detailed design, construction project management, public, interdepartmental and branch consultation, the development and implementation of landscape construction standards, the collection and maintenance of “as-built” data, post-completion of capital projects, and park programming.
The Grounds Maintenance Programs, which includes the Irrigation Program, is responsible for the maintenance of approximately 546 hectares of irrigated turf, and the operation and maintenance of 381 irrigation systems; 258 sportsfields (including 80 Class 1 and 2 fields used for provincial, national and international sporting events); shrub beds; park trees; litter control; park pathways (including snow removal on main lit pathways); and approximately 18kilometres of cross country ski trails.
The Greenhouse Program is responsible for providing and maintaining floral and indoor plant displays for public viewing at the Conservatory, City Hall, other civic facilities, and for landscape enhancement. Approximately 45,000 annuals are produced each year for the Flowerpot Program and flowerbeds in parks and civic open spaces. The “Flower Pot” Program is comprised of a total of 860 plastic pots located along major public roadways and in the Local Business Improvement Districts (BIDS). In addition, the Conservatory Program, which welcomes approximately 80,000 visitors a year and our Greenhouse Program produce approximately 4,000 plants/flowers annually for shows.
The Urban Forestry Program is responsible for the management of a tree inventory which exceeds 100,000 trees, including maintaining a pruning cycle of 1:7 years and planting approximately 2,500 trees annually. Additional program responsibilities include tree planting, disease control monitoring and prevention (for example Dutch elm disease and Black Knot), and maintaining a tree nursery of approximately 7,000 trees that are utilized for the forestation of city parks, boulevards, buffer strips, medians, streetscapes and other civic open spaces.
Pest Management
The Pest Management Program is responsible for mosquito control monitoring and implementing the Province's response to West Nile virus through a larviciding program. This program is also responsible for enforcing the Provincial Dutch Elm Disease Regulations by monitoring trees throughout the city for elm bark beetles and physically inspecting for improperly stored elm firewood and suspect elm trees. For current mosquito count numbers, click here.
Woodlawn Cemetery, established in 1906, is owned and operated by the City of Saskatoon, and falls under the responsibility of the Parks Branch. Woodlawn is centrally located, situated north of 33rd Street between 2nd Avenue and Warman Road, and is comprised of approximately 42.5 hectares with approximately 3,500 well-established trees. It is operated as a self-funded cemetery with no public tax support.
The Nutana Pioneer Cemetery, situated north of Diefenbaker Park on the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River, was closed by City Council in 1911. The cemetery has been declared a “Heritage” site and is maintained by the Woodlawn Cemetery Program.