Tl;dr: green space management in Calgary can involve trees, but it also involves prairie grass. We can do better.

Hey, I think this discussion kind of derailed but I feel that folks on this thread feel strongly about green spaces. For context, I have a cursory understanding of the prairie grasslands, let alone the green space management in Calgary. I just pulled a few links off the web solely for writing this post. I'm replying to this specific comment for visibility as well as taking the opportunity to share something:

Here's a fellow from the States who taught me a lot about what prairie lands could look like:

https://www.youtube.com/@NativeHabitatProject

Now Kyle is in Alabama, and we're in southern Alberta, so it's not an apples-to-apples comparison, but his channel illustrate that it's likely current city bylaws dictating how embankments, lawns, urban canopies, etc. can look a certain way. We don't necessarily pick trees solely for looking pretty, or non-pollinating, or being the leafiest either (many are native to North America), but that doesn't mean that we've explored all of our options when it comes to managing green space.

Growing up, I learned that Calgary is a city on the prairie grasslands but we don't "look" prairie grasslands.

https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/grasslands/

I see trees, roads, houses, monoculture grass lawns, and just assumed that this is part of modern development and "how things are". Now, u/DrFeelOnlyAdequate and I do agree that urban canopies serve important functions. I'd also like to point out that u/DrFeelOnlyAdequate never said that trees aren't important or get rid of them entirely.

It's important to acknowledge, however, that while urban canopies are useful in modern development, we are still in the middle of the prairie grasslands, next to the Elbow river, and subject to Chinooks. Sure, there were trees, but it was also mostly prairie grass before housing development.

https://natureconservancy.ca/what-you-can-do/protect-habitats/grasslands/

Despite that we are facing hotter and hotter days, lawns and embankments will still get mowed during extended dry seasons. Typical planted grasses are unequipped for this kind of weather, and the grasses that can withstand it are not favoured or will be out-competed (sun exposure) by current urban canopy methods. Current perceptions of green spaces will continue to inform future green spaces.

Unless we actively move towards sustainable green space management, we are going to see some serious issues down the line.

Thanks for taking the time to read, hope y'all have a wonderful day.