Days before summer’s first long weekend, council has passed an updated bylaw setting rules for park use in Collingwood.
The bylaw takes effect immediately, and includes stricter rules for the types of shelters that can be used at town parks and specified areas for barbecue use.
Going forward, the only sunshade structure permitted is one with a single pole and only one side (like an umbrella on its side).
Barbecue areas will be designated and the town will be encouraging people to use the town supplied charcoal barbecues and all used charcoal must be discarded in the facilities provided in the barbecue areas.
Currently, there are plans to set up town barbecues at the east end of Sunset Point, and Dean Collver, director of parks, recreation and culture, said staff are looking at establishing barbecue areas at Millennium Park too. There are already charcoal disposal facilities at Millennium Park.
The town has hired four additional bylaw enforcement officers for the summer season.
Parks officials told council they will be increasing the garbage collection at parks to seven days a week and will have staff on shifts to walk around the parks helping to educate people on the park use rules.
Chief Building Official and head of the town's bylaw enforcement, Greg Miller, previously explained to council that bylaw staff would be taking an education-first approach for the updated parks bylaw.
Staff did make changes to the bylaw between presenting it to the corporate and community services standing committee on May 6 and council approving it on May 17.
Town parks will no longer be closed at night time. The previous iteration of the bylaw proposed closing the parks to the public between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The bylaw also further defines the types of sports and recreation allowed in Collingwood’s parks to include a long list of sports from croquet to disk golf as permitted “provided the sport or activity does not interfere with the reasonable enjoyment and use of that park by other users.”
Collver said the change “softens the language” around permitted activities in the park.
“It does so without deleting the intent, which is to make sure parks are a safe environment,” he said.
In addition to passing the parks bylaw update, council also confirmed it will not be allowing the sale of alcohol at food trucks this season.
The standing committee heard from staff on the matter on May 6 after the town received a request from the owners of the 1858 Caesar Bar to allow them to operate a food truck with an alcohol licence at Millennium Park.
Staff recommended – and council supported – a full review of the concept instead of a pilot project, and suggested they could work toward a policy potentially allowing alcohol to be sold from food trucks next season.
The town is still offering permits to food trucks on a first-come, first-serve basis for the 2021 season, but no alcohol service is permitted from the food trucks.
