News & Updates from the park

Gregg Iannaccore and Berry Hill Landscaping staff

On Sunday Kilcona Park Dog Club volunteers and Berry Hill Landscaping staff – armed with wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and 5-gallon pails – set to work widening and levelling another 400 metres of badly-eroded trails in the off-leash area. The weather was, frankly, miserable! Temperatures hovered around zero. Blustery winds created an uncomfortable windchill, and there were even a few snow showers. But at least there were no mosquitos!

And at the end of the work bee, volunteers were rewarded with hot slices of Boston Pizza, courtesy of North Kildonan Councillor Jeff Browaty.

Tyler White and Christine Quinlan

Volunteers attacked the mountains of wood chip that have become familiar features on  Kilcona’s landscape over the past few months. They hauled, shoveled and spread a thick layer of chips in several low-lying sections of the trail network – areas that turn into dog-magnet mudholes whenever it rains! The chips will make the rutted, uneven trails more user-friendly and easier for people to navigate.

Chipping below the hill by the maintenance compound

Taking a short break from labour-intensive task of raking heavy, wet wood chips into place, trail steward Jai Reid said, “This is really nice. Walking on wood chips feels like walking on brand new carpet!”

Trail steward Jai Reid

To avoid further damaging the trails with heavy equipment, Kilcona Park staff deliver chips to the trails during the winter when the ground is frozen. While wood chips are the quickest, easiest way to make off-leash trails less muddy and more passable, they are not a permanent fix.

Wood-chips compact and degrade and must be topped up on a regular basis. They also prevent evaporation and hold snow melt and rain water longer that would happen if the trails remain uncovered. The wet, heavy clay underneath the chips remains soft and is prone to rutting from even light foot and vehicle traffic.  And by absorbing standing water, wood chips contribute to Kilcona’s ongoing drainage problems.

To prevent trail erosion and washouts, a 2011 Kilcona off-leash trail study recommended surfacing trails with crushed rock and installing ditches and culverts to drain water quickly into the retention ponds. The estimated cost – a half million dollars. With a cash-strapped City Council, this will not be happening any time soon.

Over the past three years approximately 1200 metres of trails along the North Pond Trail, the Hill Trail, and trails in the northern part of the off-leash area have been mulched with wood chips – about 400 metres each spring.  KPDC thanks  our amazing volunteers! A special thanks to Miles Mac student volunteer, Soundarya Raj!

Chipping on the North Pond Trail – 2017

The winners of this year’s “Eager Beaver Trail Chippers” draw are:

• Christine Quinlan – $50 Sprockett’s Doggy Day Camp gift certificate

• Nicole Doherty – $50 Sprockett’s Doggy Day Camp gift certificate

• Andrew Robertson – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Angie Zalondek – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Ann Gay – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Colleen Hill – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Cory Torch – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Dave Brown – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Dylan Stevenson – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Ericka Oelke – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Jeremy McLellan – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Lynne Gauthier – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Mini Polson – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Pat Kennett – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Paul Shelton – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Ray Grymusa – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Tyler White – Pet Valu (Kildonan Green) gift certificate – free dog wash

• Gail Warywoda – Shippam summer fun pack – sunglasses and drink holders

• Soundarya Raj – Shippam sunglasses