Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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In 42 years of living on Emerald Park Road in Regina’s Whitmore Park neighbourhood, Brenda Zdunich has seen a lot of change to the green space across the street.
But she wasn’t expecting the grass to turn brown as a result of a lack of watering.
“I’m looking at it now, and it’s starting to turn brown. So I contacted the city this morning, and I said, ‘Do you have a schedule for watering the park?’” she said in an interview.
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Zdunich said the city informed her the park is now classified as Class C, meaning it is no longer irrigated.
The news came as a surprise to Zdunich, who said she wondered why the city didn’t do more to communicate the change.
“Not only is it for the residents around this park, there are many people who walk around this park, and also the soccer teams in the spring use the park,” she explained. “So of course that tramples the grass.
“If they’re not going to water it, why have it?”
Emerald Park is one of a long list of parks around the city that were re-categorized as a cost-saving measure, following direction from council during 2026 budget deliberations.
People are noticing the difference, including users of the pathway system in Optimist Park on Thursday.
“Go have a look over there,” said one woman near a grass-covered hill along the pathway, adding that she doesn’t think many people are happy with the decision.
Others see a link between taller grass and mosquito numbers.
“I understand the cost, but it’s definitely leading to more mosquitoes,” said one man near the Dewdney Avenue bridge over Wascana Creek.
Parks re-categorized as a result of budget reductions
The majority of Regina’s parks and open spaces saw changes after approximately $2.1 million was trimmed from the department’s budget request in December.
Parks have five categories that dictate their levels of maintenance. Only Victoria Park is considered Class A, which includes grass being mowed twice a week, string trimming weekly and automated irrigation.
Dozens of parks were re-categorized from Class B to Class C, including Emerald Park, reducing its mowing schedule from once a week to every two weeks, string trimming from every two weeks to monthly and eliminating irrigation.
Still others were reduced to Class D, and some spaces considered naturalized or environmental reserves are now classified as Class E, with no regular mowing except for pathway shoulders and house buffers.
Wascana Centre is managed by the Provincial Capital Commission and is unaffected.
At Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, councillors were told the mowing reduction has resulted in nine mowers sitting idle, and they will be sold if the service isn’t restored in the future.
Mayor Chad Bachynski said the changes made during a “tough budget” resulted in some successes, but other changes missed the mark.
In the meantime, Zdunich worries about the rest of the summer.
“I enjoy a nice view of the park, and that’s why I like to stay in my house,” she said. “And just to see it turn brown now and not be watered — this week’s going to be brutal on it, and it’s just sad.”
