​With warm weather drawing more people outdoors, Port Coquitlam is reminding residents to consider others using parks, trails and outdoor spaces and help keep these areas clean and safe for everyone.

Families, seniors and people of all ages have been enjoying Port Coquitlam’s parks, trails and natural areas, such as the Coquitlam River, in large numbers this spring and summer.

While the City encourages residents to get outside for recreation for their physical and mental health, the larger volume of people visiting local outdoor spaces at times creates issues related to improper disposal of litter and dog waste, conflicts between trail users, and illegal smoking and fires.

The City is reminding residents to pack out what you pack in when exploring parks, trails and rivers and to dispose of garbage and recycling properly by placing it inside the bins rather than outside. Increased collection and additional bins have been added to help alleviate the overflow of waste. Staff will continue to monitor and adjust waste services as needed.

New signs have gone up around the City’s outdoor spaces to encourage users to help keep them safe and welcoming for others. For example, new trail etiquette signs encourage users to “Share the Trail” by:

• Reminding cyclists to slow down around pedestrians and alert others of their approach by using their bell or calling to them, and
• Asking all trail users to stay to the right to allow others to pass on the left.

New signs reminding dog owners to “Doo it Right” by:

• Cleaning up their dog’s waste,
• Disposing of dog waste inside the garbage (or dog waste bins if available) or taking it home – not leaving the bagged waste outside of bins or throwing it into the forest, where it creates a health and environmental hazard and attracts wildlife, and
• Keeping dogs leashed in all public parks, trails and outdoor spaces unless they are specifically designated as off-leash areas.

Local dog owners who enjoy spending off-leash time with their pets have a variety of safe options to do so in Port Coquitlam, including unfenced shared off-leash areas in Chelsea, Skyline and Castle Parks and fenced dog parks downtown at Maple Street and Bury Avenue and in the 3300-block of Shaughnessy Street (across from Chester Place). Information about these off-leash spots can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/dogpark.

Recent hot temperatures have also raised concerns about people smoking or having campfires in parks and along the Coquitlam River. Human activity is the leading cause of wildfires in B.C., and Port Coquitlam’s forested areas are tinder dry in the summer months.

In the interest of public safety, the City’s bylaw and fire personnel have been stepping up patrols in recent weeks to enforce bylaws that prohibit smoking of any type and any kind of burning, including campfires and wood-burning barbecues, in Port Coquitlam’s parks and outdoor spaces.

Anyone who sees an open fire outdoors of any size should report it immediately to 9-1-1. Other problems related to City parks and other services can be reported 24/7 through portcoquitlam.ca/report, through the free PoCo Sort & Report app (available at portcoquitlam.ca/sortreport) or by phone at 604.927.3111.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Ximena Ibacache
Acting Manager of Communications
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca