Dryden Council has moved forward with changes to rules governing the use of City parks.
A new Parks and Recreation Area by-law has been approved, with Shayne MacKinnon the lone Council member to vote against it.
Shayne MacKinnon says he would like to see proper signage posted notifying the public of the activities that are prohibited and the consequences of violating the rules.
The hours of park use is one of the changes.
Park hours have been changed from 8:00am to 9:00pm to 5:00am to 10:00pm.
MacKinnon says people walking to or from work or visiting a friend can be fined up to $100 for walking through City parks after hours.
The by-law includes restrictions on biking, skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing in some City parks.
Camping, setting up tents and the use of Off Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles is also prohibited.
MacKinnon says the change to park rules is a knee-jerk reaction to some of the problems seen by only a few individuals but the restrictions impact “all of us.”
He says he would like to see more input from law enforcement and more proactive steps including proper signage and improved lighting in our parks.
As part of the changes, all dogs, cats and other pets must be on a leash or chain not exceeding two meters in length.
To hear more from Shayne MacKinnon, visit the Audio link below.
