From mowing to tree planting: the work that keeps King’s outdoor spaces summer-ready
Township of King, Ont. (July 9, 2026) — King Township’s Parks and Forestry staff work hard year-round to enhance the Township’s natural and recreational spaces. They care for 249 acres of parkland, more than 506 acres of passive open space, and 33 parks across King, ensuring all amenities are safe, clean and ready for residents to enjoy—especially during the peak season from April to October.
King Township’s Parks and Forestry division maintains, beautifies and protects:
- 43 kilometres of trails
- 8 baseball diamonds
- 24 soccer fields
- 9 tennis courts
- 4 pickleball courts
- 4 splashpads
- 65,000 square feet of community gardens
- 337 horticulture baskets and barrels
- 14 heritage cemeteries
- The municipal tree canopy
A complete list of park locations, amenities and maps can be found online at king.ca/parks.
Service levels and standards
The work of King’s Parks and Forestry team goes beyond daily maintenance, with staff contributing to infrastructure improvements, tree planting, and waste collection in parks, trails and open spaces. Crews also lead annual community horticultural displays and actively engage with residents, gathering feedback to help shape future parks projects and investments. The parks service levels and associated standards citizens can expect to receive during the summer months are as follows:
Grass cutting
Throughout the spring and summer, staff aim to mow grass in parks and open spaces every five to seven days. During dry spells, however, grass may go dormant, reducing the need for frequent cutting.
As part of its environmentally responsible approach, King Township practices grasscycling—leaving grass clippings on the ground after mowing. This method helps return nutrients to the soil, retain moisture, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. While clippings may be more noticeable during dry periods, they play an important role in maintaining healthy turf.
King Township also follows a pesticide-free policy, managing weeds such as dandelions through regular mowing rather than chemical treatments.
Horticulture and forestry
Every June, King’s horticulture crew brings vibrant seasonal colour to the community through planting community garden plots, hanging baskets, and decorative barrels. These are carefully tended and watered every other day throughout the summer to remain healthy and picturesque until their removal in September.
The team also oversees the care of 330 kilometres of street trees, including pruning, replacing damaged or dead trees, and planting new ones. Their work is supported by bi-annual tree plantings and a deep-root fertilization program that promotes long-term tree health and canopy growth.
Garbage removal
Staff keep King clean by regularly removing litter from parks, open spaces, municipal facilities, storm water areas, trails, and any municipally owned property. Throughout the spring and summer seasons garbage is collected every weekday. In the offseason, from November to March, garbage collection is reduced to a bi-weekly schedule.
Sports courts and fields
Sports fields are mowed every five days from April to May and every eight days from June to October. Lines are repainted on soccer fields and baseball diamonds weekly. Baseball diamond grading is completed based on use. Soccer fields are aerated bi-annually to assist with soil ventilation, improve drainage and overall field health.
Trail maintenance
Trails are graded on a bi-annual basis to ensure safe usage; this includes inspections for soft spots and wash outs. Trees and shrubs along trail routes are pruned to meet King Township service standards. View the interactive trail map at king.ca/trails.
Dog parks
Parks staff regularly maintain the Township’s two off-leash dog areas—located at King Road and Keele Street (Hogan Court) in King City and at Tasca Park in Nobleton—through grass cutting, litter removal and ongoing upkeep to ensure the spaces are clean, safe and enjoyable for dogs and their families.
Based on feedback from the recent “Wood Chips or Grass?” survey, staff are undergoing work to transition the Tasca Park Dog Park from wood mulch to grass this summer. The removed wood mulch will be reused on site to help establish a new reclaimed naturalized forest area near the dog park.
Maintenance requests and concerns
To report a concern about park and trail maintenance email Service King at serviceking@king.ca or call 905-833-5321.
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Media Contact(s)
Township of King
Carling Fee, Communications Specialist
Township of King | Phone: 905-833-4575 | Email: media@king.ca