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Brush clearing program undertaken to make Delta parks safer

Delta is trying to make its parks safer. A staff memo this month to the Mayor’s Public Safety Committee notes that a series of parks throughout the city underwent a brush clearing program last year.
park

Delta is trying to make its parks safer.

A staff memo this month to the Mayor’s Public Safety Committee notes that a series of parks throughout the city underwent a brush clearing program last year.

It was the result of a safety audit conducted several years earlier by Delta police and the parks and recreation department.

As a result of the audit, Delta council approved a bush clearing program focused on sightlines that involves clearing brush in urban forests and trails and raising tree canopies to a six-foot minimum to improve visibility.

A total of 44 sites were identified and cleared, ranging from Mackie and Watershed parks in North Delta to Fred Gingell Park, the Ladner Community Centre and the Millennium Trail in South Delta.

Once all identified areas were completed, the brush clearing work unit continued sightline improvements in as many other parks and reserves that could be managed through the duration of the program, stated the memo, which is on the committee’s agenda this week.

Meanwhile, a report which is coming to council recommends the city spend up to $125,000 for pathway lighting at Delview Park, which was another of the sites that was cleared. The report notes that in the fall and winter, daylight for park users in the early mornings and evenings is minimal, however, people will often utilize the park as a shortcut.

“While many locations would benefit from increased lighting in parks, funding is limited each year and prioritization is required. The full benefit of this new lighting program will be realized over time by incrementally adding illumination at priority locations each year,” the report explains.