Parks Snow & Ice Control

Parks, Open Space & Trails

 

Parks Operations is responsible for snow and ice control at City facilities and parking lots, designated areas Downtown, parks, trails/greenways and select sidewalks. We work in conjunction with the Streets Operations team, which focuses on clearing roadways throughout town.

 

On this page, you’ll find highlights of our snow and ice control program to help explain:

• Management Areas
• Priorities
• Level of Response

View the full Parks Snow & Ice Control Plan for all the details.

 

Additional Resources

• Review strategies used by Streets for Snow & Ice Control on roadways
• Learn how to Be Snow Savvy
• Know the Code: Get the full scoop on your sidewalk shoveling responsibilities

 

Snow and Ice Management Areas

Web-based, Interactive Maps

• Plowed Paths and Parking
• Plowed Paths, Parking, and Roadways
• Priority Bicycle Snow Routes

 

PDF, Basic Maps

• Plowed Paths and Parking
• Plowed Roadways
• Priority Bicycle Snow Routes

 

Plan Priorities

1. City facilities and Downtown

• Entrances and parking lots at open City facilities
  • Quail Campus: Recreation Center and Museum
  • Civic Center/ Library
  • Safety and Justice Center
  • Development Center
  • Centennial Pool
  • Memorial Building
  • Youth Center

Note: Staff will prioritize the entrances of these facilities to provide customers a plowed path to the door(s). Once all facilities have a path cleared and snow has slowed or stopped, staff will begin plowing all sidewalks that lead to the facility. This is primarily shovel work with the use of snow blowers where possible. 

• Downtown (Longmont Downtown Development Authority boundaries)
  • Manage the area from 2nd Ave. to Longs Peak Ave. by:
    • clearing sidewalks from building to curb along Main Street
    • plowing side street sidewalks to the alleys along the east and west side of Main street
      • includes 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th avenues
    • piling accumulated snow in pre-designated locations
  • Plow parking spaces along Main Street
    • Snow is piled in the last one or two parking spaces along the end of the street segment
  • Plow designated parking lots, all breezeways, St. Stephens Plaza and Sixth Avenue Plaza

2. Designated arterial street sidewalks

 

3. Greenways

 

4. Neighborhood, Community and Nature Areas sidewalks and parking lots

Note: Depending upon weather conditions, designated arterial street sidewalks, greenways and park sidewalks may not be plowed until the snow event has ended and the higher priority locations have been adequately managed.

 

The Fallen Branch Factor

Winter storms that produce widespread fallen branches and tree damage result in a shift of priorities. In these  situations, snow and ice removal in lower priority areas will be reduced; however, activities will resume after fallen branches have been dealt with.

 

Level of Response

Parks Maintenance snow response is dependent upon several factors, including:

• expected accumulation
• air and ground temperature
• type of snow
• potential for back-to-back storms

 

By monitoring these factors, we determine our level of deployment based on need.

 

Accumulation	Weather	Action
minimal – moderate	Single Snow Storm	• Snow team deployment occurs as needed. • City facilities, Downtown and shaded areas prone to ice accumulation, are treated as needed. Some locations will not be treated or plowed if snow is expected to melt within 1-2 days.
moderate – high	Single Snow Storm, Possibility of Multiple Storms	• Full snow team deployment; possible additional support from contractors. • Focus on Downtown area (sidewalks, alleys, and streets) and open city facility entrances and parking lots. • Service lower priorities as possible.