The Town of Cochrane parks department is reminding Cochranites to refrain from encroaching on open spaces.
Some residents have been using municipal lands and environmental reserves as an extension of their backyards — including placing compost bins, maintaining and planting on town property.
Encroachment includes gardening, planting, mowing, spraying, dumping material, building a fence or wall and the storage of tools or vehicles.
“There are so many reasons why we want people to stop maintaining open spaces,” explained Gerry Murphy, parks manager for the town, emphasizing the town’s move toward a more organic, natural landscape with minimal pesticide use.
Murphy said that in recent years the town has significantly reduced their usage of pesticides on open spaces, adding that pesticides are merely “one tool in our toolbox”, which also includes incentive programs such as ‘Weed Pull for Cash’.
By leaving open spaces untouched, this enhances the environment for wildlife and preserves the western heritage and rural integrity of Cochrane’s landscape.
“We are shifting expectations away from the perception that all open spaces should look like golf courses.”
According to Murphy, the increasing encroachment has been occurring in both new and established communities throughout the town, impacted by a rising population.
“We know that hundreds of families have moved here over the past few years,” said Murphy in a press release issued last week by the town.
“Since they may not know the rules set out by the bylaw, we’re taking this opportunity to let them know.”
Murphy said he hopes to see a noticeable difference through their awareness campaign and that the parks department won’t have to rely on municipal enforcement to hand out tickets.
Learn more at cochrane.ca.
