A ban on using barbecues and other cooking devices in Orillia’s parks is now in effect.
Council decided during its meeting in late March to implement the ban as part of its short-term waterfront program this year, which includes measures intended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Council discussed banning only certain types of cooking devices, but decided to ban all of them, effective April 19.
“It’s primarily a health-and-safety measure because of COVID,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “Last summer, we had large numbers of people — actually, uncontrollable numbers — in the park, and barbecues were often associated with large crowds.”
Fire Chief Brent Thomas previously noted charcoal barbecues were “problematic” in 2020. Some people dumped the coals on the grass or buried them in small holes, which led to grass and tree fires.
The ban is intended to be temporary, but council will wait to see how this summer goes and could decide to go in a different direction, Clarke said.
“We could say yes to certain kinds (of cooking devices) and no to others,” he said.
