A basketball hoop causes a resident to be threatened with fines
Jude Osmond
On April 29, a resident was surprised to receive a letter from the city of Gatineau stating that the basketball hoop in front of the house was causing a problem and violated municipal rule 19.
The rule states, “It constitutes a nuisance to defile municipal property, including but not limited to a public road or public building, by depositing, leaving or throwing waste, foul-smelling substances, wastewater, contaminants, construction materials, posters or any other object, matter or substance.”
Since January 1, 2025, 67 complaints have been filed about basketball nets: 57 in 2025 and 10 in 2026, according to a city of Gatineau spokesperson.
The resident mentioned the hoop had already been moved a couple of times, had been up for three years, and had never caused an issue or been a security risk. “The hoop has been installed seasonally for the past three years at the same spot,” he said.
The hoop has been very popular with children and teenagers in the neighbourhood. It has been completely safe, as it is situated at a roundabout where vehicles usually pass at slow speeds. The letter from the city states that if the hoop is not moved or removed by a certain date, there will be fines of up to $300 a day until it is moved.
The basketball net was not in a reasonable location for use, according to the city, which is why a violation notice was posted. “Therefore, the basketball hoop cannot remain on the street when not in use and must be able to be moved quickly in case of emergency,” a city of Gatineau spokesperson told the Bulletin.
“The purpose of the notice was to inform citizens that the public road must remain free of any objects to ensure the safety of all users, whether pedestrians, cyclists or motorists,” the spokesperson said.
The resident mentioned that his neighbourhood supports children's outdoor activities as part of the city's play in the street initiative, which encourages children to step outside and play, without a phone screen.