Municipal workers have removed a series of unofficial signs at a Dartmouth park after they appeared alongside an official city notice, sparking a lively debate online.
The professionally produced signs were posted at Oathill Lake Park, a small neighbourhood green space in Dartmouth, bordered by nearby homes and featuring a shallow lake popular with swimmers.
One sign asked visitors to ensure their children “use their indoor voices.” Two others reminded park-goers that “homes are very close by” and said, “Please respect our neighbours.”
Signs triggered online discussion
It's unclear when the signs were installed, but photos shared online generated strong reactions.
Among the responses was one commenter who wrote: “Indoor voices are for indoors, no?”
Another added: “Imagine moving next to a park, then complaining that kids use it as a park.”
One nearby resident said the sounds coming from the park are part of living in the area.
“We moved next door to a park, and in the nice weather, there’s noise around the clock. It’s music to my ears because it means kids are outside playing.”
City says signs were not authorized
Municipal spokesperson Graeme Benjamin said crews removed the signs after questions were raised about them.
Photos of the signs had appeared on SolveHFX, an independent AI-generated website that allows residents to identify and track civic issues. Benjamin said the municipality does not monitor third-party platforms.
“While we're aware of third-party tools that support residents in tracking civic issues, the municipality does not monitor third-party platforms,” Benjamin said.
He stressed the signs were removed because they were not authorized by the municipality, not because of their message.
“It was strictly that they weren't put up by municipality.”
No noise complaints reported
Benjamin noted that municipal compliance officers confirmed they had not received any noise complaints connected to Oathill Lake park.
The city already has an official sign at the park that encourages visitors to be “cognizant of neighbouring properties,” he said.
