Call the Fun Police! Water balloon ban pitched for city's parks and playgrounds
A Noho tech entrepreneur is pushing the city to ban 'single-use' water balloons in public parks and playgrounds.
'Every summer, New York City parks — especially popular playgrounds and splash pads — become littered with broken plastic water balloon pieces. It may seem like harmless fun, but the impact is serious,' reads Di Di Chan's Change.org petition, which has so far collected about 200 signatures.
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3 Water balloons help kid's cool down, inventor Josh Malone said.
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The petition calls on the Parks Department and the City Council to outlaw single-use balloons — which burst when they hit their target — for reusable ones, made from much thick rubber and magnetic closures.
Chan, 40, also would like to see the city 'post educational signage on [the] environmental impact' the leftover rubber from single use soakers create 'at splash pads and playgrounds.'
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It was unclear if Chan has children.
Chan then offered an Orwellian take, insisting, 'This isn't just about banning something — it's about building better habits.'
3 The plastic left from waterballoons could pose a tripping hazard, the petition insists.
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Leftover balloon remnants threaten wildlife who may ingest the pieces, she claimed, without providing specifics.
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Furthermore, single-use balloons create choking and tripping hazards for small children, she insisted in the petition.
'Every summer, New York City parks — especially popular playgrounds and splash pads — become littered with broken plastic water balloon pieces. It may seem like harmless fun, but the impact is serious,' reads the petition.
The petition calls for reusable water balloon swaps as well as volunteer cleanups.
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Chan — the co-founder of FutureProof Retail, a firm that teams with retailers to create customized line-free mobile checkout and order-ahead shopping apps — could not be reached for comment.
3 Malone said it is up to kids and parents to collect water balloon remnants and keep the parks clean.
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Josh Malone, inventor of Bunch O Balloons, insisted the ban was not necessary.
'Water balloons provide a way to play and cool off outdoors during heat waves,' Malone said. 'If you are playing in a public place, you should clean up any mess and leave the park the way you found it. Same as cleaning up after a pet or after eating a popsicle, also activities that shouldn't be banned.'
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Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Residents call to halt Callander's eagle relocation
There is a rising call within Callander to leave the bald eagles alone. The eagles live near Callander's public dock on Lansdowne Street, behind the gravel parking lot on the right side as you head toward the lake. The municipality owns the property, and plans have been underway for over a decade to develop the land and ideally move the library to the location. Although no development date has been set, the municipality is taking steps to encourage the eagles to relocate. Staff are building two tree landings near the current nest in hopes that the birds will choose one of them as a new nesting site . See: Callander prepares for eagle nest relocation Municipal staff have been working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and await final recommendations from the ministry regarding how best to manage the eagle nest when development proceeds. Mayor Robb Noon said, 'We've been trying to get ahead of this, because hopefully, the land will be developed, which is something we've been working toward for ten years.' He added that the municipality is also waiting for recommendations from an environmental consultant. 'So council is sitting in a holding pattern until that happens so we can see the best course of action. We're waiting to see how we can move forward.' Some residents want the municipality to simply leave the eagles and the tree they live in alone. Janis Reed, a long-time Callander resident, shares that sentiment, and has created a petition on to stop the relocation. At the time of writing, 1,515 people have signed the petition. Reed is not only concerned about the eagles, but the pine tree as well. Reed estimates the towering white pine — Ontario's provincial tree — is between 170 and 204 years old. 'It could be the oldest tree in Callander,' Reed told BayToday. 'This tree would have started growing between 1820 and 1855. Callander was established in 1888. I believe that this tree should be designated a Heritage Tree and have a plaque placed in front of it to recognize this instead of cutting it down.' She also shared concerns about the eagles, which by her estimates, have been there since 2018. The eagles are unique, Reed emphasized, and have become a feature of the town, with many people stopping by the area to catch a glimpse. Reed explained she has spoken with many bird watchers who take a keen interest in the eagles. Some have said the eagles will probably not relocate within the area. Instead, they predict the birds will simply fly away to another region. 'They'll probably just move on and we'll have lost them from our downtown core, where many people come to see them,' Reed said. BayToday spoke with local naturalist and bird photographer Stephen O'Donnell on the subject, and he shared Reed's concerns. He noted that it's important to protect the eagles as the species continues to increase its numbers. O'Donnell said, 'What irritates me is that the eagles were on the brink of extinction, and now they're coming back and everybody's thrilled about it,' However, 'Now we're losing our respect for them again.' 'We should be working with wildlife, not against it,' O'Donnell emphasized. He also noted that of the many times he's photographed the eagles, 'There are always people watching and pointing at the eagles.' 'Believe it or not, those eagles draw quite a number of people to that little boat launch,' O'Donnell said. Asked what the town should do, O'Donnell said, 'Just let it be.' He added, 'At some point in time we need to realize our place in nature and where we fit in. We shouldn't be thinking that we're the supreme being.' Reed held similar thoughts, 'We urge the Municipality of Callander to reconsider this decision and take action to protect and preserve the heritage white pine and the bald eagles who reside there.' Mayor Noon added 'Our natural environment is a big draw to Callander, and the eagles are a part of that. We want to do what we can to protect that. Everybody's on board trying to do the best for these eagles.' David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
USA Today
10-07-2025
- USA Today
Petition demands new storm warning system in flood-ravaged Texas Hill Country
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Contributing: Kenny Jacoby and Rick Jervis, USA TODAY
Boston Globe
06-07-2025
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