City of Ottawa launches 50 sports equipment lockers around local parks

Dozens of lockers containing sports equipment like basketballs and soccer balls have been installed at locations around Ottawa. (City of Ottawa/supplied)

The City of Ottawa has launched a new program in collaboration with Equip Sport and Canadian Tire Jumpstart to provide free sports equipment like basketballs in parks.

Fifty lockers have been installed and are now operational, the city says. The project will last for one year. Most lockers will have basketballs and soccer balls inside. Some will have volleyballs, and a handful will offer ping pong paddles and balls to use.

The lockers require the use of the Equip Sport app, which can be downloaded for free on Android and Apple devices. The app allows users to find and unlock available lockers. It also shows what equipment is available in the lockers. The city says no credit card or payment is required to access the lockers.

“Park locations for the pilot project were selected by Equip Sport based on their priority to reach high-needs neighbourhoods while facilitating the regular servicing and maintenance of the lockers within a limited geographic area,” said Dan Chenier, general manager of Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services, in a memo released Friday.

“Following the pilot’s completion, a comprehensive review will help determine the next steps. There is strong potential to expand the program by adding lockers across additional wards, increasing the number of lockers and introducing a broader variety of sports equipment.”

The lockers are mounted on existing city infrastructure and are fully maintained, monitored, and restocked by Equip Sport, according to the city. Users will be able to report any damaged or missing equipment directly through the app. The items inside are free to use thanks to Canadian Tire Jumpstart funding.

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The lockers are located in the following parks:

• Alexander Park, 960 Silver St.
• Arnott Park, 691 Hartman Cres.
• Balena Park, 1640 Devon St.
• Bellevue Manor Park, 1475 Caldwell Ave.
• Brantwood Park, 39 Onslow Cres.
• Brewer Park, 100 Brewer Way
• Canterbury Park, 2185 Arch St.
• Carson Grove Park, 1423 Matheson Rd.
• Cecil Morrison Park, 1332 Avenue O
• Cedarcroft Park, 1200 Cedarcroft Cres.
• Chaudière Park, 68 Elm St.
• City Centre Park, 1800 City Park Dr.
• Coronation Park, 442 Coronation Ave.
• Cyrville Park, 1420 Meadowbrook Road
• Dr. John Hopps Park, 300 Den Haag Dr.
• Eastvale Park, 740 Eastvale Dr.
• Elizabeth Manley Park, 1161 Blohm Dr.
• Eugène Martineau Park, 710 Mikinak Rd.
• Fairlea Park, 2989 Fairlea Cres.
• Forbes Park, 669 Paul Ave.
• Gil O. Julien Park, 201 Donald St.
• Greenboro Park and Community Centre, 363 Lorry Greenberg Dr.
• Heatherington Park, 1560 Heatherington Rd.
• Heron Park, 999 Heron Rd.
• Jules Morin Park, 400 Clarence St. E.
• Ken Steele Park, 1195 Ogilvie Rd. Gloucester
• Ledbury Park and Pavilion, 1250 Ledbury Ave.
• McCarthy Park, 3320 Paul Anka Dr.
• New Edinburgh Park, 203 Stanley Ave.
• Optimiste Park, 43 Ste. Cécile St.
• Overbrook Park, 33 Quill St.
• Parc Bordeleau, 349 Bruyère St.
• Parc Jasmine, 2040 Jasmine Cres.
• Parc Laroche, 51 Stonehurst Ave.
• Plouffe Park, 930 Somerset St. W.
• Reid Park, 40 Reid Ave.
• Riverain Park, 400 North River Rd.
• Sandalwood Park, 2850 Sandalwood Dr.
• Senator Eugene Forsey Park, 964 Bronson Ave.
• Springhurst Park, 24 Brunswick St. (Station A)
• Springhurst Park, 24 Brunswick St. (Station B)
• St Luke’s Park, 166 Frank St.
• Sylvia Holden Park, 641 O’Connor St.
• Trojan Park, 901 Trojan Ave.
• Union Basketball Court, 349 Bruyère St.
• Weston Park, 955 Pleasant Park Rd.
• Whiterock Park, 1245 Matheson Rd.
• Windsor Park Ottawa, 1 Windsor Ave.
• Winterwood Park, 1844 Johnston Rd.
• Woodburn Park, 1819 Stonehenge Cres.