Ever since the Spring of 2021, when the Meadows of Stroud Park was redeveloped as a Community Park with a playground area and combined tennis/ basketball courts, some neighbours have complained.
The Stroud park is surrounded by homes, with access via narrow walkways. There is no onsite parking, and noise echoes off the houses that back onto the park, citizens say.
Area residents complained of boisterous groups using the hoops in the evening, loud music, and the litter left behind. Council was approached and asked to consider moving the amenities to another location, such as the Stroud Community Centre which offers more parking, more space, and better opportunities for monitoring by bylaw officials.
However, a staff report received by council on Wednesday night recommended no changes to the amenities, noting that the park has been developed “for the benefit of the whole community.”
The report cited policies and plans that “speak to the need for and importance of parks and community spaces for mental health and well-being,” especially for youth.
In its Youth Engagement Strategy, adopted by Council in 2020, the town acknowledged that youth wanted “more places to go and more spaces to belong,” especially “youth-friendly” spaces where young people could “be themselves instead of having rules that make them feel uncomfortable and unwanted.”
Removing the nets would largely impact youth, the report concluded. Instead, Director of Operations Nicole Bowman recommended:
- Additional plantings on either side of the courts near the residences to provide additional screening.
- More trash cans in the park.
- The alteration of signage “to impress upon users the need for a respectful level of noise.”
Council was asked to approve the “stepped” approach to addressing residents’ concerns.
“I think we’re in the right direction,” said Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson, but he suggested that more should be done to address the noise complaints.
“What I’d like to see is no music allowed in that area,” the Deputy Mayor said, referring to the basketball courts.
He suggested that defining “a respectful level of noise” was too subjective. “Banning these boom boxes and Bose boxes, we can maybe eliminate another concern,” Davidson said. “Sometimes youth need to be reminded they can’t do everything they please or everything they wish.”
Bowman argued against a ban, warning, “It becomes very difficult to enforce.”
Instead, she suggested the town continue to encourage park users to be more respectful.
“However, we will continue to monitor the situation to see if this recommendation has the desired effect. We’ll continue to experiment and adjust that,” she said.
She identified a need to be respectful of park users as well, and find “that right balance.”
“I like that approach,” Davidson responded, “but if we do get noise complaints regarding music… we are prepared to go forward with banning music in that particular park, because of the closeness to the residents.”
“We’ll certainly keep an eye on things and continue to adjust as needed,” promised Bowman.
The report also thanked the residents for their input and their "call to action” for better consultation. “We appreciate these comments and will use them to improve how and when we communicate with the community about upcoming development,” staff wrote.
Council voted to accept the recommendations for the Meadows of Stroud park.
