Neat to Know: September 3, 2026 | City of Medicine Hat

Sep 03, 2026

Neat to Know is a roundup of City news, updates, and other important information. You can expect to see the week's most interesting content and even some that may have not been delivered through our regular channels.

Adjusting off-leash areas to address safety

We're changing the designated off-leash areas within our trail network to improve safety, predictability, clarity, and overall enjoyment.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, all parks, trails, and open spaces will be on-leash unless specifically designated as off-leash areas. Signage will be clearly displayed when entering and exiting off-leash areas.

The city’s new designated off-leash areas will include the existing, fenced, off-leash dog parks (Westvue and Saratoga), as well as three unfenced off-leash areas:

A section of Echo Dale Regional Park
A section along Ranchlands/Parkview
A section of the Ross Glen natural area

The decision to change designated off-leash areas was made based on public engagement and feedback which indicated a need to prioritize safety, clarity, and predictability for all trail users. This change is just one of the many ways we're working to ensure these spaces are safer for all users.

Read our full news release to view the off-leash area maps, and learn:

What led to the decision
Why these spaces were chosen
What to expect moving forward
And more

Trail to Playground Access Initiative

Our Parks and Recreation department is improving access to 11 playgrounds around the city! Starting Wednesday, September 9, staff will begin the Trail to Playground Access Initiative, which will install sections of paved trails, seating areas, ramps and curb connections at strategic locations to connect users to park playgrounds.

These upgrades will provide safer and easier access to playgrounds for all residents. These playgrounds aren’t directly adjacent to parking lots or roadways, which may make it difficult for some users to access them through the current grass park space.

Tentative schedule

The four construction window start dates listed below are weather permitting. Each construction window is anticipated to take two to three weeks to complete. Click each park name to view the installation design.

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026
Hughes Park | McIntosh Park | Optimist Park | Osborne Park

Monday, Sept. 14, 2026
Valleyview Park

Monday, Sept. 28, 2026
Connaught Park (Primrose) | Crestwood Park | Upland Park

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026
Spruce Close Park | Stein Park | Sunset Park

What to expect during construction

Residents may experience temporary pathway and playground access restrictions during construction. Efforts will be made to minimize disruptions and maintain safe access where possible. Residents are asked to avoid fenced work zones for the safety of both the public and construction staff.

Check out our Parks and Recreation Explorer to find other beautiful parks and playgrounds nearby while this construction is underway. We appreciate your patience and understanding while these upgrades are completed!

Planned pipeline inspections next week: what to expect

From September 9 to 15, TC Energy is performing routine inspections and maintenance on their natural gas pipeline through Medicine Hat.

As part of this work, you may hear a loud roaring noise known as a ‘blowdown’ for around 20 minutes when natural gas is released to depressurize the pipe. This will occur in the City’s northwest (near the Unit 16 & 17 power generation turbines) and at the City’s main power plant near the South Saskatchewan River. The sound can be as loud as an airplane engine, but don’t be alarmed – this is all part of the process.

Flaring only if necessary

Specialized tools are used to inspect the pipeline from the inside, checking for corrosion, damage and any other anomalies that might affect safety and condition.

Sometimes, flaring is required to safely move these tools through the line. When this happens, there is loud noise, heat and a large visible flame from a flare stack that is positioned at the City’s main power plant. Again, this is all part of the safe maintenance and operation of the high-pressure gas line and is not cause for alarm.

Learn more at tcenergy.com.

Labour Day hours

Hours and services at various City of Medicine Hat facilities will be affected by the Labour Day statutory holiday next Monday.

Visit our holiday hours page to view what to expect for transit service, waste collection, and hours of operation at City facilities on Labour Day.

Statutory holiday transit service

And as noted in last week's Neat to Know newsletter, the third-and-final statutory holiday of our statutory holiday transit service pilot project is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Service will run from 8:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Canada Council for the Arts Session

Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 5:30 p.m. | Esplanade

Interested in funding opportunities for artists and arts organizations? Join Canada Council Arts Liaison Consultant Michelle Schultz for a free session exploring available grants, the Alberta Focus Initiative, and professional development opportunities. Attendees can also learn about one-on-one Office Hours taking place September 10 and 11.

Free admission. RSVP required. Learn more here.

Art in Motion: Plan your trip!

Saturday, Sept. 12 | 12 to 5 p.m. | Esplanade & First Street SE

Art in Motion, Medicine Hat's free, family-friendly celebration of arts and culture, returns to downtown. With more than 5,000 attendees expected, we've rounded up everything you need to know before you go, including free parking locations, Park & Ride transit options, and tips for exploring downtown Medicine Hat while you're here.

Visitors can take advantage of free parking lots throughout downtown or use the Park & Ride service from the Medicine Hat Mall, Medicine Hat College, and Big Marble Go Centre. While you're here, be sure to explore the many shops, restaurants, cafés, and businesses that call downtown home.

Learn more about getting here on Facebook or Instagram.

Flag Football

Starting Sept. 13 | 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Methanex Bowl at Big Marble Go Centre

A 6-part weekly Skills and Drills program designed by Under Armour to introduce young players to the fundamentals of flag football in a fun, low-pressure setting. Each session focuses on the basics - catching, throwing, running routes, and flag pulling - giving kids the repetition and guidance they need to build real confidence with the ball.

No league play, just learning, growing, and falling in love with the game.

Sign up options includes a team for boys and a team for girls.

Free compost giveaway and battery recycling

Saturday, Sept. 12 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 1453 Hutchinson Avenue SE

Don't forget, our third-and-final free compost giveaway day in 2026 is almost here!

These events have provided an opportunity at up to 10 kilograms of our SureGrow compost per household, along with a chance to safely recycle your used household batteries. Proper battery recycling reduces the chance of fires in our collection trucks and at the landfill.

We’ve provided 37,335 kilograms of SureGrow compost, and residents have recycled 170 kilograms of used household batteries over the first two events – we can't wait for the final event of the year on September 12!

Learn more about our SureGrow compost at medicinehat.ca/suregrow. And, if you have household batteries lying around and want to recycle them outside of this event, visit RecycleYourBatteries.ca to find a recycling location near you.

Want to see more upcoming events, programming and activities? View all options at City of Medicine Hat facilities:

Operating Budget vs. Capital Budget

Last week, you learned the City’s budget has four distinct areas: Municipal, Land Development and Real Estate, Rate-based Utilities, and Energy Production.

Within each of these four areas, funds are separated into an operating budget and a capital budget. So, what’s the difference?

The Operating Budget funds daily operations and pays for things like salaries, utilities in City buildings, fuel, insurance, materials and supplies, and software. These expenses typically occur each year just to do what we do.

The Capital Budget, on the other hand, funds long-term assets like buildings and infrastructure. It is usually expensed over time and happens on a project-basis (like building a new fire hall or purchasing a new transit bus).

Think of it this way:

The Capital Budget pays to buy or build lights. The Operating Budget pays for the electricity to keep the light on, the wage for workers to maintain or repair the light, and the fuel for the truck he/she drives to get there.

And believe it or not, we dice this even further! Stay tuned next week or read ahead at medicinehat.ca/budget.

16 Street SW Road Rehabilitation

Review the design and share your feedback

In consultation with neighbouring businesses, the City has developed a conceptual design for roadway improvements to 16 Street SW (from the Trans-Canada Highway to 10 Avenue SW).

The design aims to reflect the priorities and concerns heard from businesses, addressing drainage, improving road surface conditions and safety, and maintaining the functionality and character of this important corridor.

We invite the public to review the conceptual design and share your feedback online through a brief survey. Learn more on the Shape Your City project page.

Phase 2: Shaw Crescent SE road rehabilitation

The final phase of the road rehabilitation project is set to begin on Shaw Crescent SE. With Phase 1 wrapping up, Phase 2 is slated to begin Thursday, Sept. 10. Weather permitting, work will be completed by Saturday, Oct. 10.

The project will rehabilitate all of Shaw Crescent, plus a trio of intersections, and includes the following elements:

Replacing the existing road structure and repaving the roadway
Upgraded stormwater infrastructure, including catch basins
Concrete sidewalk, curb and gutter replacement

Parking and alley access effects have been communicated with affected residents directly.

Read our initial public advisory to learn about the project, view the phasing (with maps), and other impacts.

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