As winter's chill approaches, the City of Grande Prairie is calling upon its residents to play a crucial role in nurturing their green spaces. The City is urging everyone to take proactive steps by ensuring that their private trees, shrubs and perennials receive the necessary hydration before the first snowfall.

Grande Prairie is embarking on an exciting journey to develop an Urban Forest Strategy, aiming to protect, enrich and celebrate our urban forest for future generations. This forward-thinking strategy will be crafted with our community members' invaluable input and collaboration.

What is an Urban Forest?

An urban forest isn't merely a collection of trees; it's the thriving green core of our city, encompassing majestic trees in parks and streets, along with lush greenery in natural areas, backyards, and even commercial and industrial zones.

On Monday, July 17, road work will begin on 68 Avenue westbound lanes between Knowledge Way and Kateri Drive.

As residents of the City of Grande Prairie, it is essential to have a clear understanding of property boundaries and tree ownership. Parcel boundaries can vary from site to site, and knowing who owns the trees located on or near your property is crucial.

As the summer weather continues, the City of Grande Prairie emphasizes the significance of proper watering practices to maintain the health and vitality of trees on your property. With increasing temperatures and dry conditions, it is crucial to prioritize watering efforts to ensure trees receive adequate hydration, thereby promoting their growth and longevity.

The community is invited to attend the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Blossoming Garden of Hope on June 8, 2023.

The Blossoming Garden of Hope offers a peaceful environment intended to support families that have experienced the loss of a child regardless of age or gestation.

The initial line of the Southeast Grande Prairie Firebreak has been completed ahead of schedule, providing an important additional line of defense against wildfire for the region.

During the first week, May 16-23, two dozen pieces of equipment, primarily from local contractors, completed the initial firebreak. The line is 30 kilometres long and 30 to 40 metres wide, with some locations reaching 100 metres across. Despite the recent rain, equipment continues work to widen the line up to 200 metres in strategic locations.

The City of Grande Prairie is advising residents to be patient with their evergreen trees, which can look red or burnt due to seasonal changes. While these trees may appear dead, they still have the potential to regrow if given the proper care and attention.

"We understand that it can be alarming to see your evergreen trees looking red or burnt," said Parks Integrated Pest Management Lead Hand, Caleb Benson. "However, it is important to be patient and give these trees a chance to recover before assuming they are dead."

The City of Grande Prairie has started seasonal street sweeping operations on arterial roads.

Street sweeping includes cleaning debris from the roadway, medians, concrete barriers, and boulevards.

Sweeping of the arterial and collector roadways and transit routes is anticipated to last until late May, weather dependent. City crews have also begun sweeping City trails.

Pinnacle Ridge residents are invited to provide their feedback regarding the $12.50 levy for the operation and maintenance of the front entrance water feature and fountain.

The Pinnacle Ridge Water Feature Levy will be discussed at the following meetings: