Sidney officially outlawed overnight use of public facilities, picnic shelters, stages and structures within town parks.
Council officially adopted the required bylaw during its Feb. 12 meeting.
“We are putting this bylaw in place not to stop activities in the park but to manage them better,” Coun. Steve Duck said. “We have had problems with noise in our parks. This bylaw will be another tool in the tool chest for staff and RCMP to manage the folks in the park.”
The bylaw applies between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. – hours chosen with the help of RCMP.
“This is not going to impact individuals getting up in the morning to walk their dog or run in the park,” Coun. Terri O’Keeffe said. “This is a way for staff to deal with disruptive behaviour.”
Parks will continue to remain open at all times, so individuals may still occupy other areas through the night.
Staff said at the Jan. 22 council meeting that the bylaw would more likely be enforced in a situation such as if rowdy teens refused to leave a picnic shelter late at night.
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