MEDIA RELEASE January 27, 2014
Town urges residents to exercise caution in parks and trails HALTON HILLS, ON – Town staff continue to deal with the aftermath of last month’s ice storm and urge residents to exercise caution when using local parks and trails. Efforts to clear out downed trees have focused on hydro service lines, public streets, school zones and sidewalks and it will be weeks before other public areas can be properly assessed. “Staff have been doing their best dealing with the massive clean-up” noted Mayor Rick Bonnette, “with the volume of snowfall recently, winter control efforts have taken the majority of staff time to make roads and sidewalks safe.” While the Town has not taken the step to formally close all parks across the Town, they strongly urge residents to avoid areas that were impacted by the storms. “Trails do not receive regular winter maintenance under normal circumstances” added Terry Alyman, Director of Recreation and Parks. ”Given the current state of most natural areas we are recommending residents avoid the use of damaged areas for the time being. Trails have been marked as ‘Closed’ until further notice.” Regular winter programs that have been impacted by the storm include maintenance of the natural outdoor rinks and weekly garbage collection. Maintenance of the outdoor rinks at Georgetown Fairgrounds and Prospect Park, Acton are currently open, subject to any future weather events. Town staff continue to address the conditions that are the most risk to residents and public property. Cemeteries and major parks are the first priority. Residents may report hazards they observe in parks by calling Public Works at (905) 873 2601, extension 2603. However, due to the volume of calls, residents are encouraged to report via email at
[email protected]. The Town has opened areas for residents to drop off tree debris at the following two locations: Robert C. Austin Operations Centre, 11620 Trafalgar Road, Halton Hills (Georgetown) and the Acton Public Works Yard, 1 Commerce Crescent, Halton Hills (Acton). Both facilities will be open to the public seven days a week, 24 hours a day and are in addition to the regular road side pickup. As the need to drop off debris is reduced, the hours will be adjusted. Halton Region will also be collecting tree debris within residential areas on their identified days until February 28 – more information is available at www.halton.ca. Branches are to be no longer than two metres (6.5 feet) in length and no wider than 7.5 cm (three inches) in diameter.
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Further storm updates and resource material may be found on the Town’s website at www.haltonhills.ca.
About the Town of Halton Hills The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto. The Town is the 2013 recipient of the National Municipal Environmental Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and is ranked as one of the Top 5 small communities in Canada by a national magazine. - 30 For further information contact: Warren Harris, Manager of Parks and Open Space Recreation & Parks Department 905-873-2601, ext. 2274 Email:
[email protected]
