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Unkempt grass along Waterloo Region’s boulevards is obscuring city’s fire hydrants

The Region of Waterloo’s plan this year to cut its grass-mowing budget along city boulevards in half seems to have backfired.

Residents are complaining the grass has reached heights on boulevards and along regional roads in the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge that it is obscuring fire hydrants.

Regional council had agreed to reduce its grass-cutting budget in half this year to save money.

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic took it upon himself to drive by some of the areas in question, acknowledging the tall grass is higher than the hydrants in some places. Regional staff will meet with the maintenance contractor to see if the grass can be cut more frequently.