FAQs
- Ball diamonds (baseball, softball, tee ball)
- Beach volleyball courts
- Bicycling parks (i.e. BMX, pump track, mountain bike trails)
- Cricket pitches
- Horseshoe pits
- Lawn bowling
- Off-leash dog areas
- Open fields for unstructured play
- Outdoor basketball courts
- Outdoor children’s play areas (play structures, swings, sand play)
- Outdoor fitness equipment
- Outdoor picnic/shade shelter/seating
- Outdoor wading pools
- Outdoor pools
- Outdoor rinks
- Outdoor running/walking tracks
- Pickleball courts
- Playgrounds
- Skateboard parks
- Splash pads
- Sports fields - artificial turf (i.e. football, soccer, ultimate, rugby, field hockey)
- Sports fields - natural turf (i.e. football, soccer, ultimate, rugby, field hockey)
- Tennis courts
- Arenas
- Pools
- Gyms
- Community buildings
- Galleries
- Theatres
- Museums
- Recreation and Community Centres
When will the new by-law come into effect?
The City aims to have the by-law reviewed and guidelines in place for the 2025 summer season. The report is scheduled to be presented to Committee and City Council in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.
Why is the City updating the Parks and Facilities by-law?
The City is updating the Parks and Facilities by-law to incorporate amendments made in 2021, update language to ensure it is current and meets the evolving community needs.
What amenities are considered as Parks and Facilities?
Parks and green spaces include, but are not limited to, outdoor recreation amenities such as:
Facilities refers to any indoor facility operated by the Recreational, Cultural and Facility Services department and include but are not limited to:
Did the City consider accessibility when preparing the recommendations?
Yes, the City of Ottawa’s Accessibility Office is being consulted throughout the entire process.
The current Parks and Facilities By-law speaks about encroachments on City parkland but doesn’t actually define what they are. Will this be revised?
Yes, the new Parks and Facilities By-law will include a definition of encroachment.
Who is responsible for removing encroachments in City parkland?
The individual(s) who installed the encroachments are their ‘owner(s)’ and are responsible for their removal. The new Parks and Facilities By-law will include provisions about notifying the owner(s) of encroachments that they must be removed. This will also allow the City to remove any encroachments and to bill the owner(s) for the costs, if the owner(s) fails to remove them on their own.
Are any new items being considered for inclusion as part of the Parks and Facilities by-law review?
New items are being considered based on public service requests, input from City Councillors and operational staff. The public can suggest items through the public survey.
Are we exploring the responsible use of personal consumption of alcohol in parks?
While the current by-law prohibits alcohol consumption in parks without a permit, the City is exploring alternative options for responsible use of personal consumption of alcohol.
The project team has conducted extensive research and consultation with municipalities that permit alcohol in parks and the survey includes questions on this topic for public feedback.
What type of feedback is the project seeking and how will it be used?
We are seeking feedback on how to update and improve the regulation of activities in parks and facilities. These regulations will contribute to the ongoing efforts of maintaining the quality and safety of our parks and facilities. Although parks planning, design or programs offered in the space is not within the scope of the by-law, we are committed to recording feedback and relaying to City staff for their awareness.
How will the public remain informed of the project updates?
Engage Ottawa will be the primary platform for project updates. Public engagement will occur through Engage Ottawa, with promotions through our social media channels and other avenues.