Whereas the City of Kingston has an obligation to balance the safety and well-being of all residents, including people experiencing homelessness and users of public parks and playgrounds; and
Whereas City of Kingston By-Law Number 2009-76, the Parks By-Law, and City of Kingston By-Law Number 2023-214, the Community Standards By-Law, regulate activities in public spaces but currently do not define distance-based “safe zones” around children’s playgrounds, schools, daycares, splash pads, and similar sensitive areas; and
Whereas other Ontario municipalities including St. Catharines, Sarnia, and Greater Napanee, have adopted protocols or public-space By-Laws that prohibit or restrict high-risk activities within defined buffer zones (typically 50 to 100 metres) of sensitive-use areas; and
Whereas public safety concerns have been raised regarding open-air drug use, discarded paraphernalia, and encampments located immediately adjacent to playgrounds and family recreation areas; and
Whereas the Ontario government, through recent legislative changes, has granted municipalities greater authority to regulate public consumption of controlled substances and to designate sensitive areas for protection;
Therefore Be It Resolved That staff draft amendments to City of Kingston By-Law Number 2009-76, the Parks By-Law, and City of Kingston By-Law Number 2023-214, the Community Standards By-Law, to create defined Child Safety Zones, often referred to as Sensitive Use Zones, within 50 metres of any public playground, school, daycare, splash pad, or organized children’s sports field prohibiting the erection of temporary shelters, the possession or use of drug-consumption paraphernalia, and open-air drug use; and
That staff be directed to align enforcement of the new provisions with Kingston’s Encampment Response Protocol and to incorporate a trauma-informed and housing-first approach, including outreach, referrals, and alternate sheltering options before any enforcement action occurs; and
That staff report back to Council in Q2 2026 with proposed By-Law language, information on implementation and enforcement, a plan for mapping of Sensitive Use Zones across City parks, and coordination mechanisms with Kingston Police Services and community outreach partners; and
That staff to review best practices from other municipalities on balancing public safety and human-rights obligations when regulating sensitive use area and to include these findings in the staff report.