Breakwater Park regulars mixed about weekend closure

Regulars to Kingston's Breakwater park voiced their opinions about the recent decision to keep the park closed during the evenings this coming weekend.

It was a quiet scene at Breakwater Park Friday afternoon and not just because of the cooler temperatures. The area is a little less inviting now that fences have been erected.

The gates around Breakwater Park and the pier will close from 8 pm until 6.30 am from Thursday until Sunday.

“It’s unfortunate” says acting Kingston police chief Scott Fraser. “It affects the whole community but we just need to get through this time period.”

He says the park and pier have become simply too tempting of a party-place for returning students. During a recent evening, an estimated 1,500 young people crammed into the area at night, leading to a nuisance complaint.

“We know at the beginning of the school year when our post secondary students return that sometimes things just get carried away a little bit.”

Some regulars to the pier, like Sandy Sousa, are frustrated at the closure of a space they’re used to accessing anytime.

“It’s being closed for a certain population without the consideration of the other people that are being affected,” says Sousa.

But others like Julie Douglas say given the stakes it’s worth the inconvenience.