Nicholas Sheran Park

By Connor Gunn

City reinvests $100,000 into Lethbridge parks after previous cuts

Jul 27, 2021 | 4:39 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The city has approved the motion to invest $100,000 back into the Parks budget for 2021.

“In response to resident concerns, as well as the general aesthetics of City parks and open spaces, Council on Tuesday voted 5-4 to re-invest funding back into the Parks budget this year,” the release reads.

It will be funded by the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve (MRSR).

During the city’s Operating Budget Review in November 2020, council voted to reduce the Parks budget by $590,500 annually.

“Lethbridge has 2,900 hectares of parkland requiring maintenance, which is higher than any other benchmarked community, as noted in the 2020 KPMG Operational Review Phase 2 report.”

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Councillor Blaine Hyggen, who introduced the resolution says this money will mean a lot to city staff that maintains the parks and residents that use them.

“Many of our residents are expressing extreme dissatisfaction with reduced service levels in our parks and open spaces, including weeds in green spaces and medians, as well as lessened dryland mowing further reducing the visual aesthetics.”

“Today’s decision by Council is a significant move to rectify some of the issues identified by concerned residents.”

The original resolution was split after a motion to divide, proposed by Councillor Rob Miyashiro, carried 6-3. “Part 2 was defeated in a 6-3 vote.”

That vote would have added $404,500 back to the Parks budget in 2022.