La Ronge council has a new bylaw in place regulating municipal parks. (YouTube/TownofLaRonge)

By Derek Cornet

municipal politics

New Parks Bylaw prohibits overnight camping

Jul 5, 2022 | 3:52 PM

Although a homeless encampment has since left a downtown park, town council has moved ahead and adopted a Parks Bylaw at a regular meeting last week to manage such an occurrence in the future.

Back in April, several tents appeared near Riese Park that were being occupied by homeless people. The following month council voted to evict them from that location and relocate them to a wooded area between the La Ronge Health Centre and the nearby post office.

The encampment is now gone as residents to seemed to have moved voluntarily. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Council also tasked administration to develop a new bylaw to regulate the use of municipal parks.

“In the background and outside of our policies, there are people who are trying to curb the homeless situation … at the municipal level and pushing that up to the provincial level because I think the majority of the people on council believes the province needs to be stepping up further,” Mayor Colin Ratushniak said. “At the same time, we have a duty to all of our residents in the tri-community, so everyone can actively use them without anyone else infringing on someone else’s use of the parks.”

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The bylaw is wide-reaching and effectively closes all parks between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. It also states no person shall set up a tent, temporary structure, take up temporary or permanent abode, or otherwise camp in a park.

Animals are not permitted within a sports field or playground, and people can’t operate a sound amplification system or take part in a procession, drill, performance, ceremony, or similar activities that may draw a crowd. The sales of goods or services are restricted unless such activity is pre-approved via a permit.

Those who violate the bylaw could be issued a $200 fine for a first offense and then $400 for subsequent contraventions of the bylaw within a 12-month period.

“We’re extremely lucky in the north to have the benefit of all the parks and living right on the water,” Ratushniak said. “I think that’s (Park Bylaw) something we need to have in place and make sure that everyone is following.”

The bylaw also restricts the use of signs, vehicles pathways and trails, fires and more. More information can be found online here.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno