The Town of Quispamsis is closing three municipal ballfields for grub control operations this week, asking residents to stay off the turf for 48 hours while the treatment takes effect. The closures run Tuesday, June 2 and Wednesday, June 3, with the fields expected to reopen on Thursday, June 4.
The affected fields are Meenan’s Cove Ballpark, Walter Jewett Field, and Saunders Field. Gates will be locked and signs posted, according to a town notice. Residents who use these spaces for baseball, soccer, or general recreation should plan to stay away until the reopening date.
This marks the latest round in an ongoing battle against chafer beetle larvae, which have caused widespread lawn damage across New Brunswick in recent years. The town previously applied insecticide to municipal fields in 2021, and lawn care professionals described 2022 as one of the worst years on record for grub populations, with wildlife such as raccoons and crows tearing up turf to feed on the pests.
New Brunswick’s pesticide rules are among the strictest in Canada. Since 2009, more than 240 over-the-counter lawn chemicals have been banned for sale and use, and commercial applicators must hold Integrated Pest Management accreditation. Treatments are capped at 50 percent of turf area per property per season without a special permit.
The grub control program arrives just as new Mayor Mary Schryer settles into office. Schryer was sworn in on May 25, 2026, taking over from Libby O’Hara, who retired after 15 years of public service. The treatment is separate from the town’s annual Cleaner Greener Quispamsis cleanup, which focuses on litter and waste removal each spring.
