City of Brampton Logo

Frequently Asked Questions

​​​​​

Park Usage

​All park and recreational trail users are required to follow the Park Land By-Law so that Brampton's open spaces can be enjoyed by all. ​ Learn more here.​​​​

Report park ​issues to 3-1-1 (Service Brampton) so that they can dispatch the right staff to inspect and address the problem. You can submit a service request 24/7 ​using any of the following methods:

 

There are many community programs available at Brampton parks, and everyone is welcome to participate:​
​

​Brampton offers beautiful settings within our parks for photography and outdoor events. For these needs, residents will need to obtain a permit and schedule the event with the City of Brampton. For more information on the parks and availability, please contact Facility Rentals​ at 90​5-874-BOOK.​
​​​

​Park Safety tips:
  • Be sure to wear footwear at all times. It is at the user’s risk if they do not wear footwear.
  • Clean spaces are safe spaces. Throw out your litter in the garbage cans.
  • Parents should walk around the park area to inspect for any hazards that may injure their children. Check for issues such as, broken glass, needles, sharp objects, broken equipment, unsanitary products or feces.
  • Report hazards and potential hazards to 3-1-1​
​

Park Maintenance

Since the provincial government passed the Ontario Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act in 2009 -- which banned the sale and use of more than 250 products and 80 pesticide ingredients -- the City has adopted an “Integrated Plant Health Care” strategy to increase the heartiness of grass and deter weed growth where possible.

The following steps are taken by the City to combat weed growth, while remaining compliant with The Act:

  • Adjusting the frequency and timing of when City-owned lawns are cut, to reduce the number of weeds that spread seeds (dandelions flower in both May and August).
  • Mowing grass at a 3 to 4” height to promote stronger grass roots, create shade at the soil level, and discourage the germination of seeds to weeds.
  • Increasing the fertilizing and aerating of high-traffic grass areas.
  • Treating hard surface areas such as walkways with a high-pressure steam system called “Aquacide” to control the spread of weeds.
  • Covering garden and shrub areas with mulch to help retain water and prevent weed seeds from coming in contact with soil.
  • Through the development planning process, trees are replacing some of our shrub borders in new developments to reduce the areas prone to weed growth.
  • Reducing the number of hard surfaces utilizing unit pavers, which permit weed growth along seams between the pavers.
  • In the areas where the above-mentioned methods are not practical, City staff will manually/mechanically remove weeds.
  • Using applications of non-banned substances (fatty acids) to control weed growth on hard and granular surfaces in parks and on selected sports fields.

Valleylands, flood plains, and stormwater management ponds are intentionally not maintained to support and preserve the health of the environment. The longer grass in these areas improves soil stability and helps reduce erosion. Visit Grow Green​ to learn more about environmental sustainability.

Garbage cans emptied at minimum once a week at each playground or parkland location to prevent overflow, with additional maintenance scheduled on weekends. If you have notice an overflowing garbage can that needs to be emptied, please contact 3-1-1.

The grass at sport fields are cut at least once a week (weather permitting). After mowing, staff paint markings on the fields that are used for "games only".

Park Maintenance & Operations strive to maintain a mowing height of three inches, which contributes to a much healthier turf surface. Maintaining this height has proven to reduce weeds, endure heat stress and tolerate drought in the hot summer months. This practice is highly recommended on your own lawn to produce the same results.

City staff cut the grass at boulevards and Brampton parks 14 times throughout the season, from May to October.

Grass in naturalized areas (stormwater management ponds, valleys, and flood plains) is not cut, as the longer grass in these areas improves soil stability, helping reduce erosion.

The Parks Department is responsible for removing snow in the Fire Hall parking lots, Recreation centre parking lots, parkland easements and recreational trails.

All Fire and Emergency Fire Hall asphalt surfaces are considered primary locations and will be cleared within 12 – 24 hours after the END of a snow fall.

Recreation centre parking lots are secondary locations, and we strive to clear them within 24 hours following the END of a snowfall.

Once Fire hall and Recreation centre lots have been cleared, Parks staff can begin clearing snow from parkland recreational trails and easements. Recreational trails are plowed when at least 7.5cm of snow has fallen, and are scheduled to be cleared within 24 hours following the END of a snowfall. Continuous snowfall may extend this period by several days.

Snow Clearing updates can be found at brampton.ca/snow​ ​

Trees and Forestry

Tree inspections are conducted by a certified Arborist from the City's Urban Forestry team. The Arborist takes into consideration a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the percentage of canopy loss, the structural integrity of the tree, as well as the risk to both public and private properties. In some instances, damage to the tree may not be noticeably visible. The City is committed to preserving trees and green spaces and to only removing those trees that require removal.

No, the public is not permitted to do any work on a tree located on public (City) property.

​An application to injure/remove a tree can take up to 30 days for processing. You will receive a letter from the City in the mail unless otherwise stipulated on your permit request.​

An Urban Forestry staff member will inspect the tree, and if it is determined to be healthy, the tree will not be removed. The Region of Peel is responsible to maintain the water pipes from the road to the shut off valve in front of your home. 
​

An inspection can take up to 90 days. This estimate is based on resources and weather conditions.​

The timeframe for completion will be dependent on the condition of the tree and the severity of the work required.​

The City does not support the removal of healthy trees for driveway widenings. The City also does not remove stumps on public (City) property. Members of the public are also not permitted to conduct any work on trees located on public (City) property

​Please contact your service provider. The City may attempt to remove the wire, however we are not responsible for any damages incurred as a result of the wire being removed and/or cut.​

Yes, you will receive a door hanger indicating that Urban Forestry staff have completed the inspection of the tree on public property.​

If you have exposed tree roots on your property, you are encouraged to soil and seed the area which may assist with the overall health of the tree.​

No, Urban Forestry staff will determine the type of tree that is best suited for the location.

The primary factors the City's Urban Forestry staff consider when determining if a tree on public property should be removed include:
  • is the tree experiencing an insect infestation?
  • has the tree suffered from significant canopy loss?
  • is the tree dead and does it pose a hazard to the public?

There are a variety of pests and disease that are impacting trees in Brampton. Information about some of the most common is available here​. This includes the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which has had a significant impact on the City's urban forest. Click here​ to learn more about the EAB. ​​

Property owners have the option to keep Ash trees on their property. They assume all liability for that tree. Written consent may be requested by the City of Brampton. For more information on Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), click here.​
​​

Property owners are required to submit an application to the City regarding any work that may injure or remove a tree that is larger than 30 centimeteres measured at 1.37 meter height from the ground.  The application form is available ​here​. If the application is approved by the City, a permit will be issued and the property owner may proceed to injure or remove the tree.   

A permit is not required remove a tree that:
  • has a diameter of less than 30 centimetres (12 inches) measured at 1.37 metres height from the ground; or 
  •  is within 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches) of an occupied building.​

Contact Parks Maintenance and Operations - Community Services

Phone: 3-1-1 (Within city limits) or 905.874.2000
Hearing Impaired (TTY): 905.874.2130
Mailing Address:
Williams Parkway Operations Centre
1975 Williams Parkway
Brampton, Ontario L6S 6E5​

parks@brampton.ca​​​​​
​​​​