HRM seeks feedback on park lighting
HALIFAX — City staff are asking people to drop a pin on where they want to see lighting in parks.
This week, the HRM launched a web page to gather public input on a park lighting strategy (www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/park-lightingstrategy). Right now, lighting in parks and trails is added on a one-off basis with no overarching plan or list of prioritized areas.
“There is no policy or program for lighting and a lot of HRM’S bylaw provisions around parks being closed at 10 p.m. don’t take into account differences in how parks are used in different neighbourhoods,” said Deputy Mayor Sam Austin (Dartmouth Centre) in a recent newsletter to residents. “In some places, barring the public at night likely has the opposite effect of making things less secure.”
He said he originally brought it forward to staff because he hears from residents a lot about this issue, particularly from people requesting lighting at Sullivan’s Pond, the Harbour Trail and the Dartmouth Common.
“HRM needs to take a look at the whole question of lighting and figure out what our goals are in terms of evening activity in parks, how that might need to vary by location, and what criteria HRM should consider when installing lighting.”
The survey opened on Monday and closes on June 11. Residents are asked to fill out a questionnaire as well as mark on an interactive map where they would like to see lighting installed in HRM’S 900-plus parks.
Staff are looking for public feedback to identify gaps, concerns, and where specifically lights are needed: pathways, courts, entrances, parking lots, etc.