Water Use in Parks

Keeping our parks and sports fields healthy through effective water management

Parks is dedicated to using our resources responsibly, and has been recognized internationally for our best practices in water management.

We are continually looking for ways to conserve water while protecting assets like trees and turf. Some of the ways we accomplish this include:

  • Using a centralized irrigation system that draws data from weather stations around the city to determine when watering is necessary.
  • Upgrading and constructing new spray parks with holding tanks and water treatment systems to contain and reuse water. Spray parks now use only a fraction of water that older designs required.
  • Placing water bags on new trees to keep trees properly watered until their root system is firmly established.
  • Allowing turf to grow to longer lengths to provide shade for roots and retain moisture.

Citizens should note that sports fields are watered according to patterns of use. When sports fields are heavily used, they require regular watering to protect turf from wear and tear.

It is normal for turf to enter a dormancy cycle during periods of extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. This period is noticeable during winter and summer months when green turf turns slightly brownish-yellow.

Turf not heavily used during summer is allowed to enter a dormancy state through less watering. The turf will not be damaged, and will return to more active growing and a green hue when temperatures become less extreme in early fall.

Want to know how you can use less water in your own yard? Get lawn care tips and info on watering and irrigation systems for your home. See what you can do to save water and discover some interesting wate​r facts!​​​

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