The Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Strathroy United Football Club (SUFC) to bring the community its first autonomous lawnmower. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the community’s commitment to sustainability and supporting local recreation.
The autonomous lawnmower, developed by Echo Robotics, will be used to maintain the fields at the Stadium Soccer Field at Yorkview Community Park. This cutting-edge equipment is designed to operate with minimal human intervention, resulting in consistently manicured lawns. By integrating autonomous mowers, the municipality can ensure that soccer field maintenance becomes more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, ultimately enhancing the quality of the playing surface for athletes and freeing up valuable time for staff to conduct other essential tasks.
Mayor Colin Grantham expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “This partnership is a win-win for our community. Not only does it enhance the maintenance of our public spaces, but it also aligns with our sustainability goals by reducing fuel consumption and emissions. We are proud to be at the forefront of integrating advanced technology into our municipal operations.”
Luis Duarte, Groundskeeper for the SUFC, echoed the Mayor’s sentiments, adding, “This mower has improved the quality of the playing surface by keeping the grass at the same height, rain or shine, which reduces the potential for injuries and [improves] the quality of the game.” Luis added, “Club members are extremely happy, as well as our out-of-town visitors.”
The partnership with SUFC also highlights the importance of community collaboration in achieving shared goals. Following the success of the autonomous mower’s trial period, Strathroy-Caradoc Council passed a resolution at their July 15 meeting directing staff to utilize the Municipality’s Progress through Partnership (PTP) program to fund a maximum of $20,000.00 towards the purchase. As part of the cost-sharing agreement, the SUFC provided matching funds to help secure the mower.
The municipality thanks the SUFC for their enthusiastic partnership on the project and looks forward to continuing to support a high standard of local recreational facilities throughout the Strathroy-Caradoc community.
