| The grass is growing long beside Sarcee Trail – and the city likes it that way.
The boulevard, between 17th Avenue S.W. and the Signal Hill shopping complex, is the site of a test project where native plants and grasses have been seeded and allowed to flourish. The city hopes the test will save it money because, once established, the grass won’t have to be mowed as often.
The initiative was prompted by a desire to cut back operating costs, but Don Basarsky, operations manager of roads maintenance, says there are environmental and esthetic benefits as well.
"In the long run, it’s to save limited money. But it’s also trying to create a natural look," he explains. "We are the West. We are trying to generate a look that is… in keeping with the West."
Basarsky says it will take a few years for many types of wildflowers to really start to thrive, but the natural grasses are already established. Native bushes and trees have also been incorporated.
He adds that although the city was concerned people wouldn’t like the look of the native plants, most comments from the public have been positive.
"Once people see the benefits and see what we are going after, our feedback, so far, is that they will look on it very favourably, and we will have support," Basarsky says.
Dana Bush, a member of the Alberta Native Plant Council, says the program is a great idea. She thinks people simply need to understand that native plants can be beautiful and using them makes sense in a number of ways.
"I think the idea of mowing the edges of roads… is an incredible waste. I don’t really understand the logic," Bush says. "It’s just a matter of getting used to (native plants)..... We have a real artificial idea of things."
However, she adds that it may be impossible to have a totally native selection of plants and grasses because foreign seeds, grasses and plants are everywhere.
Regardless, she thinks if the city does a good job mixing wildflowers, plants and grasses, it will save money and beautify the city.
"You can’t have an area of Canada thistle and garbage. You still have to maintain it," she says. "I think it’s a great idea."
Basarsky says native plants also hold water better and are hardier, which are advantages, but the real impetus behind the intitiative is saving money.
Over the summer, the city saved $4,000 in maintenance fees on the pilot project area, all of which was reinvested into the project. Once the native plants are established, the city will only mow once a year to prevent the risk of fire.
If the test project is successful, it will be implemented in other areas, and Calgarians may want to get used to looking at prairie plants around their city.
"People drive by that road at 80 kilometres an hour. Do people notice? Does it lessen their experience? The answer is ‘No.’ The grass is longer, but it’s not ugly," Basarsky says, "It has worked well. The public has been positive." |
