Port Moody doesn't want residents to share their Christmas spirit with wildlife and the city's natural areas.
So instead, the city is inviting people to decorate a designated space in Pioneer Memorial Park, on Knowle Street in front of the recreation complex.
Beginning Friday, Nov. 17, potted fir trees and two wire-frame sculptures will be set up in the park where holiday decorations and ornaments can be hung instead of wild areas like Bert Flinn Park.
In July, the city adopted a policy prohibiting decorations in natural locations after concerns ad hoc holiday cheer placed on trees and bushes in Bert Flinn’s natural off-trail areas was becoming an environmental threat to the habitat and its resident animals.
In a report, Esin Gozukara, the chair of Port Moody's parks and recreation commission, said the decorating efforts started in 2016 and had become more endemic during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gozukara said "growing participation is concerning due to materials used in decorating may persist in the environment, potential attractant issues and ecological concerns from off-trail foot traffic."
Environmental technician Emily Gutenberg said the decorating isn't an organized effort, but baubles had been observed hanging from trees in sensitive wetland areas and glass from broken ornaments had been found on forest trails.
Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti said providing a designated outdoor space for decorating will still allow residents to express their creativity and spread holiday cheer while protecting the city’s natural environs.
"While decorations in parks and on trails can bring joy and lift people’s spirits, they are not permitted because the materials use can be harmful to our wildlife," she said in a news release.
The city is urging residents use natural or biodegradable materials like wood, twine, cork, fabric, stones, seashells or paper when crafting their outdoor decorations. Wooden beads, plush toys, salt dough art and dried or fresh flowers and live native plants are also okay. Manufactured items like styrofoam, glitter, netting, tinsel or plastic, as well as latex or helium balloons should be avoided, along with edible items like seeds, nuts, dog treats or candy.
For more tips on creating safe outdoor decorations, as well as a comprehensive list of allowable and disallowed materials, you can visit the city's special park decorating website.
The decorating effort at Pioneer Memorial Park will last until Feb. 11.
