Statement from Mayor Gilvesy regarding the importance of outdoor play

Over the past several days, there has been a lot of discussion online and in the media about how important it is for children in Tillsonburg to play outside. As a municipality, we wholeheartedly agree that outdoor play is not only valuable, but vital for children’s mental and physical health.

The question facing our community is not whether children should play sports outside. They should. The issue is that sports equipment is being placed where it projects outward into the roadway, creating a hazard for drivers of large vehicles, and in clear violation of the Town’s bylaws.

No one at the Town of Tillsonburg is suggesting that kids should stop playing basketball outside. After all, we have a strong basketball legacy in this community—from the Livvies Olympic team, to NBA coach Jay Triano.

We are, however, asking residents to play safely and make smart choices. A basketball net should be positioned on your own property. If the size and shape of your property makes it difficult to position a net, remember you’ll find backboards at several parks and facilities, including the J.L. Scott McLean Outdoor Recreation Pad. See www.tillsonburg.ca/parks for details.