Human waste contamination forces closure of Barrie City Hall fountain pond

One day after the Barrie mayor issued a state of emergency on homelessness, the city has been forced to shut down it’s fountain pond in front of city hall.

The City of Barrie announced the early closure of the City Hall fountain pond due to unsanitary conditions, citing acts of vandalism and contamination from human waste.

The decision comes one day after the mayor declared a state of emergency to address the significant number of encampments across the city, including one along Mulcaster Street near City Hall.

According to city officials, the presence of human waste in the pond contaminated the water, posing a risk to public safety. To mitigate the risk, the city decided to close the pond for the remainder of the season, allowing it to be properly cleaned and restored.

The fountain pond, located in the courtyard in front of City Hall and called The Circle at the Centre, will reopen in the winter for ice skating.