Report calls for reassessment of Mooney’s Bay sledding hill

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A report to be presented to the City of Ottawa’s community services committee next week contains recommendations aimed at ensuring the sledding hill at Mooney’s Bay Beach and Park meets safety standards and can reopen as an authorized sledding location.

The hill was removed from the city’s list of designated sledding sites in 2017 after numerous reports of injuries, collisions and near-collisions.

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However, in December 2021, an 11-year-old girl died after the sled she was riding in crashed into a sign on the hill.

River Ward County. Riley Brockington, whose neighborhood includes the park, has been looking for solutions so sledding can resume safely there.

In 2022, he proposed a motion for the hill to be professionally assessed and modified, with the aim of addressing specific safety issues associated with its north-facing side.

“I put forward a motion to staff to professionally evaluate the hill and bring us some recommendations that would lead us to modify it in a way that makes it safe while keeping the sledding open to the public,” he said. .

The report says that despite the delays in receiving recommendations, city staff recommends hiring professionals to further evaluate the hill and provide guidance on necessary physical modifications that would ensure the hill meets safety standards and can reopen as a licensed sledding venue.

The report includes three recommendations for the city: allocate up to $250,000 for outside experts to analyze and design modifications to the hill and surrounding park; report findings to council for possible future action; and maintain seasonal temporary fencing on the hill until safety issues are resolved.

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Brockington emphasizes the popularity and historical importance of the hill, which was a beloved sledding spot for decades.

The hill is a large man-made park with an extremely steep slope, created from construction rubble in the 1970s. It was originally designed as a ski slope for youth, according to the report.

“I want this hill to remain open to the public during all four seasons. “It’s very popular, very used and very visited,” Brockington said.

Brockington recognizes the risks inherent in sledding, but says that with appropriate modifications, these risks can be mitigated to create a safer environment in Mooney’s Bay for Ottawa residents to enjoy outdoor activities there.

“It’s not about digging up the hill or reducing some of its height, but rather determining which side of the hill is safest for sledding,” he said.

Historically, the city has tested various safety measures, including padded barriers, hay bales and warning signs.

Brockington suggests allowing sledding at the midpoint of the hill, restricting it to one direction. Steep upper slopes would remain off-limits, but the less steep and shorter north side could be used.

He says erecting fences in a public place is not a long-term solution, which is why he supports the motion being tabled.

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