As we get ready to enjoy longer days and warmer weather, City of Abbotsford crews are busy ensuring our community is prepared for spring.
In the coming weeks, you will see our teams out performing seasonal maintenance in City parks, including:
- Facilities opening: Washrooms, water taps and drinking fountains will be ready starting April 1. Splash pads and spray parks are being prepped for opening May long weekend.
- Cleaning: Sports courts, park structures and buildings will be pressure washed.
- Sports infrastructure: Nets will be put back up at Albert Dyck Park and Mill Lake Park.
- Planting: Shrub beds are being tidied and planted. Plant material is being refreshed at locations throughout the city. Planting is completed in spring to ensure plants have adequate time to establish before summer heat sets in.
- Turf and sports fields: Baseball diamonds are being groomed for opening on March 28. Mill Lake lawn bowling pitch is being prepped for the May season opener.
- Irrigation and fountains: All irrigation systems will be started and tested. The City Hall and Friendship Garden fountains are being refurbished for early summer activation.
- Tree maintenance: Essential tree work will be completed before bird nesting season begins.
These efforts ensure Abbotsford parks are clean, safe and ready for everyone to enjoy.
Meanwhile, the ice is being removed from the Abbotsford Recreation Centre and MSA Arena rinks, with dry floor activities set to begin once the ground has warmed up. Centennial Outdoor Pool will open May 1.
In the coming weeks, the City of Abbotsford's Utilities team will perform water main flushing to remove sediment from water pipes. This maintenance is scheduled during periods of moderate water use to ensure adequate supply during summer's high demand and to prevent icy roads in winter.
The Diking, Drainage, and Irrigation team will also convert prairie drainage systems to irrigation setups. By adjusting control valves and gates and activating pump stations, they manage water flow into ditches, ensuring farmers have sufficient water for their crops during the growing season.
These efforts are essential for maintaining water quality and supporting local agriculture.
As winter ends, Abbotsford's Roads and Street Operations team repairs road damage and decommissions winter maintenance vehicles. Street sweepers clear debris, while roadside mowers transition from cutting back blackberry overgrowth to spring mowing.
Mowers are undergoing maintenance before the season starts, and streets are being prepared for line marking. Paving crews are set to resurface 30 km of roads in 2025.
The Fleet team will soon inspect snow and ice equipment for next winter, while technicians continue EV training at British Columbia Institute of Technology to maintain the City’s electric vehicles.
A big thanks to all these City teams for keeping Abbotsford safe and beautiful through the seasonal transition!
Abbotsford City Council
