It is now full summer and our community’s landscaping is displaying its full beauty. We suffered through a challenging spring but now hopefully we can bask in warm sunny days with the occasional nighttime drizzle to keep our gardens green. Thanks go out to ULS and Pixie Gardens for keeping our medians, green spaces, and planters looking their best. Often on summer days you will see ULS staff working to maintain our green spaces and medians. The NDHA requires our contractors to adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety protocols, including appropriate safety barriers, pylons, and signage when crews are working in roadway areas. Even with these precautions, working in the medians with cars whizzing by is stressful and dangerous. Please go slow and give the crews a friendly wave as you pass by.
Landscaping
Earlier this summer, the City undertook a major tree planting program in Discovery Ridge, in both medians and green spaces. This program was to replace trees that had died and some that had previously been removed. The NDHA, with the help of our ULS crews, will keep a careful eye on these trees to be sure they get enough water to thrive. We are also working to get approval to add some new planters to medians beyond those around the waterfall. We receive a lot of positive feedback about the colourful flowers in the planters and we would like to see this carried out in other areas of the community. One final project we have ongoing should provide us with a lovely surprise next spring but we are not going to spill the beans just yet.
As a reminder, in summer you may see portions of our green spaces that do not seem to be getting the attention you expect. Sometimes, rain makes the ground too soft for the heavy mowers to work on safely and without creating damage. On the other hand, if extremely dry conditions exist, the turf can become yellow and the soil powdery dry. In either of these circumstances, ULS may postponescheduled mowing and trimming, only working in those areas on an as-necessary basis. You will probably also notice mowing crews out less frequently in late summer as the grass slows down growth in August. If you do see an area that you think needs extra care or have any questions about the landscaping work going on in the community, please reach out by phone, through our web site, or by email at landscaping@ndha.ca.
City of Calgary Projects
In May, the City of Calgary held an online public engagement showing options for replacement of the pond behind the Discovery Ridge Dam. The City has decided to remove this dam for safety reasons and is now designing what will replace it. There is a “What We Heard” report posted on the City’s web site (https://engage.calgary.ca/discoveryridgedam) that breaks down the comments provided to them about this project. We have also heard that the City will do some landscape clean up activities (weed control, removal of dead shrubs, etc.) in the area this summer. This is a positive step in managing this overgrown area that does not reflect the high quality of landscape management we expect in Discovery Ridge.
The City has also reached out to NDHA and DRCA on a project they are undertaking at the east edge of Griffiths Woods Park. They will be replacing the wastewater lift station building there and making some changes to the driveway. Based on the information the City has provided so far, it looks like this project will not impact the NDHA’s responsibilities at all. However, in reaching out to us, the City may be demonstrating a new more open style of engagement with our community on projects and this is much appreciated.
Outstanding Fees
The 2026 NDHA fee of $325 was due on June 29th. We would like to thank Members who have paid their fees already. We ask that anyone who has not paid their annual fee to please remit them right away. If you are unsure of your payment status, please access your membership portal on our website. If you have questions or concerns, you may contact the NDHA Treasurer at accounts@ndha.ca or our Membership Director at membership@ndha.ca. Please reference your property address.
NDHA is exceptionally proud that Discovery Ridge continues to be one of the most beautifully landscaped communities in our city. A neighbourhood to span a lifetime. If you happen to notice an area that might need attention such a bed being missed or damage incurred due to storms or other factors, please let the NDHA know. We are always happy to hear from our members; please use our Residents Inquiry Form, send an email, or call us at 403-237-9595.