Give them an air high-five': Newmarket marks Public Works Week with shout-out to team

'These essential frontline workers are committed to our safety and to our community,' says mayor

Newmarkettoday.ca
May 17, 2021

May 16 to 22 is National Public Works Week (NPWW). During this time, Newmarket celebrates those within the public works profession who work hard every day to ensure our roads are safe, our parks and trails are beautified and maintained, our facilities are well managed and ready for use, our water is safe and the highest quality and our community is in tip top shape.

This year’s National Public Works Week theme is Stronger Together and encourages residents to think about the role public works plays in creating a great place to live and ensuring that Newmarket continues to be a community well beyond the ordinary.

“This National Public Works Week, I want to say thank you to our staff and everyone within the public works profession,” says Mayor John Taylor, “These essential frontline workers are committed to our safety and to our community. During the pandemic they have worked tirelessly to ensure our community remains one of the best places to live in the country. I can’t thank you enough for your dedication to the community, especially during these challenging times. Your work does not go unnoticed and I am grateful to be able work with one of the best public works services team in the province.”

Did you know? The town’s public works services team is in charge of managing:
--over 45 active parks and open spaces
--over 800 acres of parkland
--624 lane km of roads
--483 lane km of sidewalks
--over 340 km of watermains
--2,266 municipality-owned fire hydrants and more.

Although the global pandemic has altered various services, public works services crews are fully operational while adhering to health and safety protocols. Over the past year, the public works team has:

• Managed over 41 winter event last season, which equates to salting and/or plowing 624 km of roads and 453 km of sidewalks and trails for each event.
• Conducted over 1,000 inspections along our parks and trails to ensure they are safe for much needed outdoor activities.
• Conducted over 500 pool tests to ensure the public pools are always safe for use
• Completed over 900 work orders to repair and maintain all vehicles and equipment (these include fire trucks, town vehicles, tractors, grass cutting equipment and more)
• Planted over 500 trees last season to increase the town’s tree canopy as part of the Urban Forestry Management Plan
• Completed over 6,100 drinking water quality tests to ensure Newmarket’s water is safe and always at the highest quality
• Completed over 40+ projects across 14 different town facilities to ensure they are well-maintained and more
• In addition, public works staff have been assisting with the vaccination clinic at the Ray Twinney Recreation Centre and are performing additional duties, such as increased cleaning measures to ensure Newmarket’s facilities and buildings are always safe.

Public works services are essential workers who take care of the community, even during these uncertain times. Next time you see a public works staff member out and about, please maintain your distance and give them an air high-five to show your appreciation.

Follow us on social media @TownofNewmarket on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more fun facts about our public works services department during National Public Works Week or view this video we put together with some fun facts! Learn more online.