City Council has officially passed a new by-law meant to curtail nuisance behaviours exhibited in the City’s parklands and water areas situated within parklands.
By-law 2024-8999 formalizes the municipality’s authorization to manage, control, regulate, and maintain parklands for the enjoyment and benefit of residents and visitors. The by-law addresses concerns such as vandalism, littering, open fires, overnight camping, and public loitering.
“The Parkland By-law gives Enforcement Services greater authority to govern the usage of parks so that everyone can enjoy our public spaces safely and equally,” says City Clerk and Director of Community Services, Steph Palmateer. “It will work with other by-laws and services like the municipal noise by-law and animal control to provide greater certainty about how our parks and water areas, like both city splash pads, are used appropriately.”
The By-law prohibits public loitering between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and defines “loiter” as the act of staying at or near a particular place for more than twenty minutes. Furthermore, the by-law makes it clear that anyone who, at any time, loiters in a public park or obstructs other persons from using the park space will be guilty of an offence.
Under the Parklands By-law, any person who contravenes any of the regulations identified in the by-law may be ordered off or removed from park property, and could be liable to a fine set out in the Provincial Offences Act.
“The Parklands By-law is meant to support public use of our local parks, beachfronts, and splash pads,” adds Palmateer. “It’s common sense and prohibits conduct and conditions that could prevent people from enjoying themselves.”
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