As an active octogenarian, who voluntarily gave up driving, I have now become the proud owner of a new electric motor scooter. It provides me with an opportunity to utilize St. Albert’s extensive trail system.
It is a most enjoyable nature and human experience to enjoy meeting numerous friendly people and their dogs. Traversing the numerous parks is a spiritual experience, so kudos to St. Albert for its generosity and awareness of a public service that is well utilized and appreciated by our citizens, especially seniors, cyclists, and joggers.
One disturbing observation I have made is the number of young trees the city plants along its boulevards, only to prematurely have them killed by lawnmower drivers the city hires to cut grass. Most trees are dying or already dead from lawnmower disease — when a mower strikes a tree and debarks it at the base just above the ground, destroying the cambium layer, which provides the tree with life-giving sap.
Instead of spending to replace dead trees, would it not be simpler to invest a few dollars for some plastic weeping tile that can be split lengthwise and be slipped over the trunk at the base of the tree to protect it? It can expand with the growth of the tree to protect it to maturity.
It is incomprehensible that city engineers have never considered this simple and inexpensive solution to a costly and ongoing problem.
Roman Bizon, St. Albert
