Robo-mowers roll out to tidy up Calgary athletic parks

Users of the Glenmore and Frank McCool Athletic Parks may see some new technology deployed to keep the grass neat and tidy this year. (Supplied/City of Calgary)

A necessary seasonal chore is being taken over by something that won’t complain or ask for an extra allowance.

The City of Calgary is testing autonomous grass mowers at two different sites as part of a pilot project to support operations and maintenance at the city’s athletic fields.

The devices will be deployed at Glenmore and Frank McCool Athletic Parks and will help the city better understand how technology performs in real-world conditions.

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“This is a small, controlled trial that allows us to explore how new technology can support our crews and day-to-day operations,” said Marc Sackman, team lead for Calgary’s recreation and social programs.

“We’re focused on learning what works well and where it makes sense to use tools like this.”

The autonomous mowers will cut grass in open areas by travelling along a pre-programmed route while human staff are free to conduct other maintenance work.

They also perform at night or between bookings, which is difficult to achieve with traditional equipment.

The city says the robots, which operate at just 52 dB, will also promote healthier and more even playing surfaces and have very little impact to nearby users and communities.

The pilot will continue throughout the rest of 2026, and the city will assess the project after it is completed.

There are no plans to expand it beyond the two pilot sites.