Picnic Spaces

Please see below the summarized by-laws that outline the general rules of all City of Sarnia Parks. More details can be found in the Parks By-Law. Some exceptions may apply to special events and will require written permission in a contract.

Anyone found to be violating the below by-laws may be ticketed and/or removed from the park.

Picnics and Other Rentals:

• Exclusive use is granted only to those with a paid and approved rental contract within the constraints of the details of said contract as issued by the City of Sarnia.
• Any person may be required to show proof of said rental contract to any City of Sarnia employee.

Animals (Wildlife and Pets):

• No animals aside from dogs can be brought to a park.
• Dogs must be always kept on-leash, except within a designated off-leash dog park (Germain Park).
• Dogs are not allowed on any city beach.
• Dog faeces or “poop” must be immediately picked up and disposed of in a designated garbage can or taken home to be disposed of.

Garbage and Waste:

• No garbage or waste of any kind can be left anywhere in any city park, beach, or body of water.
• It is requested that individuals bring their garbage home to dispose of to follow a “Leave No Trace” model. If this is not possible, then garbage must be disposed of in a designated waste can.

BBQs and Fires:

• Residential BBQs that can be carried to a green space are allowed.
• Staff will NOT unlock gates to unload and vehicles are NOT permitted to drive off a roadway/parking lot to unload.
• No commercial or industrial BBQs are allowed.
• BBQs and/or cooking is NOT allowed on any public beach space.
• Cooking grease from BBQs and/or any food waste must be disposed of properly by taking it home or disposing of it in a designated waste can. Absolutely no grease from food waste can be dumped in any park space or in any beach space, including in surrounding beach grass, etc.
• No fires of any kind are allowed in any park or beach space, unless written within a permit and in a designated fire pit.

Vehicles and Parking:

• No vehicles larger than a standard “pick-up” type vehicle are allowed on a park roadway.
• No driving any vehicle on any area except the designated roadways that are open to the public.
• Vehicles driven on any green space without written permission will be fined and individuals will be responsible for any damage or repair fees to the parkland.
• No parking on the roadways or in a way that blocks traffic.
• No parking on any green space or where it is not a designated parking area.
• No parking after park hours (midnight-5 a.m.).

Recreational Vehicles (Water and Land):

• No water vehicles of any kind are allowed on Lake Chipican.
• No motorized water vehicles are permitted close to the beach shore or where people may be swimming, including but not limited to the designated lifeguarded section of Canatara Beach.
• No camping is allowed in any park space, whether it be in a tent or a vehicle of any kind.
• No camping is allowed in any parking space within a city park.
• No recreational vehicles including RVs, trailers, campers, etc. are allowed in the park for any reason.

Alcohol:

• No person shall have any alcoholic beverages in any park space, unless an event/rental contract with an AGCO Special Occasion Permit has been obtained.
• Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.

Decorating/Posters:

• No posters, notices, advertisements, etc. are allowed to be posted in any city park, unless written permission is obtained within a permit.
• With written permission, no such items can be nailed or fastened to any park space that may cause damage.

Disorderly Behaviour:

• Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.
• Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is in violation of the Parks By-Law.

Please refer to the Parks By-law and/or any other applicable City of Sarnia Laws and By-Laws for more information.