Personal barbecues and tents could soon be banned from Barrie’s waterfront parks.
City councillors gave initial approval Monday night to a motion prohibiting cooking appliances in parks by water — unless a designated community-use barbecue, installed by the city or otherwise authorized by it — and ban tents and sunshades in waterfront parks, unless they only have one supporting pole and one wall or side.
Charcoal barbecues and tents would still be allowed at inland city parks, although there are to be no tents on city-owned land on Little Lake.
The installation of permanent community-use barbecue facilities and coal disposal receptacles is to begin this spring in two phases. The first is to include the installation of up to six permanent community use charcoal barbecues in a designated location at Centennial Park, and the second phase will include installing permanent community use charcoal barbecues in a designated location in Tyndale Park.
“Having a designated spot in the waterfront parks is exactly the right way to go about this, because the safety concern is real. I’ve seen the impact at both Tyndale and Centennial,” Mayor Jeff Lehman said. “It is just a matter of time before we have a garbage fire or something else that is a real problem.”
Most councillors agreed that barbecuing in city parks should still be allowed, in one form or another. The barbecue ban would also apply to Johnson’s Beach, Heritage Park beach and Minet’s Point Park beach.
“It’s an important part of a day out for many of our own residents, especially for those who don’t have the ability to have a barbecue in their own back yard,” Lehman said. “I often think of our parks as backyards for people who don’t have a backyard. For a number of cultures, the barbecue is one of the centrepieces of a family day at the park, or at the beach.”
“I don’t think the intent is to stop a family who’s had a long week from just taking a very portable barbecue and maybe just grilling up some burgers and watching their kids play in a local park,” said Coun. Sergio Morales, who supports the barbecue ban only at waterfront parks.
“I do think it’s the waterfront parks where the problem was last year, in terms of barbecues and the tents,” said Coun. Clare Riepma. “I don’t see any reason to limit that in the other parks.”
The disposal or depositing of community use barbecue coals in any waste container, or any other location other than those designated for their safe disposal, would also be prohibited.
City council will consider final approval of this motion at its April 12 meeting.
Last year, regions south of Barrie had more restrictive COVID-19 regulations, so their beaches and waterfront parks were closed to the public. People came to Barrie, resulting in overcrowded city beaches and waterfront parks with larger gatherings than permitted by local public health regulations.
Barbecues and other cooking appliances resulted in complaints from smoke and odours by both park users and area residents. In addition, city staff also noted increased garbage and debris — as well as dumping of materials that were still a potential ignition source.
Tents and other large sunshade structures also contributed to the overcrowding and congregating, along with being a public safety concern; they obstruct the view of lifeguards and parents for those in the water. Complaints were also received about what was going on inside tents, including using them as washrooms.
Last July, a city emergency order temporarily banned barbecue use or other cooking appliances in Wilkins Park and other beach areas within Barrie’s waterfront parks. Another emergency order later that month temporarily banned barbecues and other cooking appliances, and using tents, from all city waterfront parks, beaches and trails. In both cases, city staff were to have zero tolerance for enforcing these orders.
Current restrictions on barbecue use fall under a parks policy, which also bans the use of propane or liquid fuel appliances in Barrie parks without city authorization. Using charcoal appliances is permitted under the policy, provided there is a means to extinguish and dispose of the coals.
But issues with charcoal appliances use include dumping hot coals into park waste receptacles, dumping them into the lake and leaving coals at the site where the appliance was used. In addition, concerns have been raised about smoke and odours as these appliances can be set up anywhere in a park.
City staff have found the use of barbecues — both propane and charcoal — in the parks has increased as park use has changed to more full-day visits rather than a short stay and swim. Citizens are utilizing Barrie parks not only as a general gathering place, but have also started using the various parks for family events and community gatherings, according to city staff.
