City of Markham’s Operations Team is Ready for Winter

Markham, ON – November 22, 2023 – The City of Markham’s Operations team is ready for Winter! Explore the outdoors by visiting one of the many park pathways that are available through the Winter Parks Pathway Maintenance Program, or visit one of the outdoor ice rinks located throughout the City.

“The City of Markham is ready for Winter,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “This year, we’re thrilled to bring back our Winter Parks Pathway Maintenance Program, and our outdoor public skating rinks for everyone to enjoy. This year we have added additional equipment to our fleet, and our crews will be working hard to keep our roads safe and moving.” 

The Winter Parks Pathway Maintenance Program includes approximately 26 kilometers of asphalt or concrete pathways City-wide. These pathways will be cleared within 24 to 48 hours following the end of a Winter event where snow reaches 5 centimetres or more. 

Five outdoor public skating rinks will be open again this season, weather permitting, providing a safe and accessible leisure option for residents. These rinks, constructed and maintained by the City, will be located at: Huntington Park (lit at night), Victoria Square Park (lit at night), Milliken Mills Park (lit at night), Markham Museum, and Milne Dam Park. A flag system at each location will signal when the ice is safe to use. Onsite parking is available at all locations. The Markham Civic Centre outdoor refrigerated ice rink will also be available this season. You can check the status of our rinks at markham.ca/Skating. 

Please stay off Markham’s ponds, stormwater ponds and waterways as the ice is unsafe. These ponds are designed to have water flowing in and out of them all year long (from rainfall and snowmelt), making the ice unpredictable and an unsafe place to play. 

Winter Maintenance in the City of Markham is a big job. Please be patient as our crews work hard to maintain and clear a network of more than 2,100 lane km of road and more than 1,175 km of sidewalk to keep our streets and neighbourhoods safe and moving.

Snow clearing starts with largest and busiest roads (known as arterial or primary roads), followed by secondary roads that serve schools, community centres, industrial and commercial areas, and followed by local roads and lanes in residential areas. 

The City’s East Markham Operations Yard near the Northwest corner of Ninth Line and Major Mackenzie Drive helps enhance Winter maintenance response times across the entire City. 

After plowing, it’s normal for some snow to be left on the surface of roads and lanes especially on local roads. It is still safe to drive on snow-covered roads as long as you drive according to weather and road conditions. 

Brine, salt and sand are used to prevent roads from becoming icy while a sand/salt mixture is used to treat sidewalks Remember, salt is only effective at temperatures of -12 degrees Celsius and above. The City’s Salt Management Plan promotes environmentally friendly salt use, storage and transportation. 

If you do not see plows immediately after a snowfall, please be patient and check plow status using the Winter Maintenance App at markham.ca/Winter.

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti’s Office:
At mayorscarpitti@markham.ca.

All other media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:
media@markham.ca

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with more than 357,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 headquartered companies and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. 

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