Don’t feed the animals in Westmount’s parks

Rule Number One: Don’t feed the animals. That includes migratory birds such as ducks, and year-round residents such as pigeons, gulls and sparrows (crows are too smart to get involved in all this). Squirrels and other rodents don’t need our help, and ultimately a portion of anything you offer to any little creature may end up as rat food. If you like to feed rats, please keep it to yourself.

Rule Number Two: there is no rule number two.

Rule Number Three: Don’t feed the animals (see above).

For anyone interested in the City’s playing fields maintenance procedures, here’s a brief summary.

The City maintains the playing fields in Westmount Park, King George Park, and Westmount Athletic Grounds, through the services of an appropriately equipped and qualified specialist contractor. The work is done according to specifications provided by the City of Westmount, under the supervision of a representative of the City, in this case the City horticulturalist. The contractor follows these specifications, and reports on the results. The City administration then gives instructions according to changes caused by the weather, human activity, or other variables.

The contract specifications include, but are not limited to, the following topics: weeding, soil analysis, fertilization, top-dressing, aeration, de-thatching, re-seeding, line painting, temporary fencing, and sodding. All specifications are subject to a timetable and other particular details relevant to each item.

The irrigation system is covered separately, and in detail. Function, maintenance and repairs are all covered. The ball fields are also subject to detailed maintenance specifications.

The condition of the fields, their use and abuse, is monitored constantly. This year, for example, the City cracked down on the unauthorized use of heavy vehicles on the grass. Even City workers are ticketed and fined if they drive on the fields without proper authorization. Public Works also purchased and installed wider tires for some of the vehicles that are used in the parks, because these are easier on the surfaces.

Green-painted wooden temporary fencing is used when areas need to be cordoned off. It’s used because other systems have been deemed to be either ineffective (the plastic mesh), or too costly (the metal construction site barrier type).

For safety reasons, soccer goals must be fixed in place with concrete anchors that are required by law to be embedded in the fields. There are eight of these, one of which is removed seasonally for the softball play area.

Members of the public often call things to the attention of City staff: the sprinkler system may malfunction even hours after regular maintenance, for example; unauthorized games may be played at any time, to the detriment of the playing surface. It’s important that citizens continue to make these calls. It doesn’t mean, however, that people aren’t doing their work properly. Problems with the playing field surface are very often the result of too much traffic, not poor maintenance. As the bald man said: grass doesn’t grow on a busy street.

Oh, and one more thing: don’t feed the animals.

• George Bowser is City Councillor for District 5 and Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.