Due to the Fire Proclamation – Travel Ban issued by the Province of Nova Scotia, restrictions are in place for municipal park spaces in wooded areas.
These restrictions will remain in place until 2 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2025, unless the province’s proclamation is revoked or amended.
Woods, as defined in the provincial Forests Act, include forested land, rock barren, brush land, dry marsh, bog or muskeg.
- Municipal park spaces
Parks that are entirely woods are now fully closed, due to the Fire Proclamation – Travel Ban issued by the Province of Nova Scotia. Examples of this includes Admiral Cove, Hemlock Ravine and Shaw Wilderness Park.
Parks with non-wooded areas remain open for use. Examples of this include the Halifax Common, the Dartmouth Common, Sullivan’s Pond – as well as municipal playgrounds, sports fields and ball diamonds. The Halifax Public Gardens also remain open.
For parks which have both woods and non-wooded areas, the woods are closed and the non-wooded areas remain open. Examples of this include:
Fort Needham Memorial Park, where the monument, playground and sports field remain open but the woods area is closed.
Point Pleasant Park, where the Sailor’s Memorial Way remains open, all other trails are closed. Residents are advised that the upper parking lot, from Point Pleasant Drive, is closed.
Please note: During the provincial travel ban, dogs are permitted on-leash on Sailor’s Memorial Way from 10 a.m. until park closing. Existing off-leash rules remain in effect before 10:00 a.m.
Shubie Park, where the campground, ballfield, Fairbanks Centre, pump track and supervised beach remain open. The trails, including the off-leash trail system, are closed.
Sir Sandford Fleming Park, where the beach/waterfront area and playground remain open, but the woods are closed.
Supervised beaches in municipal parks will remain open.
The municipality is in the process of installing signage at impacted park spaces. There are over 900 municipal park spaces and signage installation is expected to take several days. Regardless of the presence of signage, residents are required to adhere to these restrictions.
Residents can contact 311 for more information.
If park users do not follow these guidelines, the municipality may need to put further restrictions in place.
A map of all municipal park spaces can be found on this webpage. Note that, with more than 900 municipal park spaces in the region, this list will not be updated to indicate the status of restrictions for each location.
- Trails
Due to the Fire Proclamation – Travel Ban issued by the Province of Nova Scotia, trail systems through woods are off limits.
These restrictions also apply to trails that are part of any active transportation routes through woods, such as the Mainland North Trail and the Chain of Lakes Trail, which are closed.
Please note: Not all trail entrances will have closure signs. If a trail is in a wooded area, it is closed.
Residents can contact 311 for more information, or if it's a provincial trail, please contact the Department of Natural Resources.
- Service impacts
Residents are advised that the grass of any municipal park spaces and trails that are closed will not be mowed or maintained at this time. Service requests for affected areas will not be processed while these restrictions are in place.
If these restrictions affect any recreation programming, impacted users will be advised.
- Enforcement
Residents are reminded that these restrictions will be enforced as necessary and that violating them may result in a provincial fine of $25,000.
Both Halifax Regional Police (HRP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members, along with the province’s Department of Natural Resources Conversation Officers, are authorized to issue summary offence tickets when required, which include a fine of $25,000 (+ surcharges).
If residents wish to report any violations of the restrictions, they can do so by contacting 1.800.565.2224.
More information on the provincial notice of restricting travel and activities in the woods is available in the Province of Nova Scotia’s news release.
For further questions, residents can contact 311 for more information. This webpage will be updated as more information becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025
- Will the municipality be posting a list or map of all the parks that are impacted by the restrictions?
Access to a map of all municipal parks and outdoor spaces can be found on this webpage. Note that, with more than 900 municipal park spaces in the region, this map will not be updated to indicate the status of restrictions for each location.
- How was this decision made?
On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the Province of Nova Scotia restricted travel and activities in the woods due to continued hot, dry conditions that have significantly increased the risk of wildfires.
- How are municipal parks or trails impacted?
Parks that are entirely woods are now fully closed, due to the Fire Proclamation – Travel Ban issued by the Province of Nova Scotia. Examples of this include Admiral Cove, Hemlock Ravine and Shaw Wilderness Park.
Parks in non-wooded areas remain open for use. Examples of this include the Halifax Common, the Dartmouth Common, Sullivan’s Pond – as well as municipal playgrounds, sports fields and ball diamonds. The Halifax Public Gardens also remain open.
For parks which have both woods and non-wooded areas, the woods are closed and the non-wooded areas remain open. Examples of this include:
- Fort Needham Memorial Park, where the monument, playground and sports field remain open, but the woods are closed.
Point Pleasant Park, where the Sailor’s Memorial Way remains open, all other trails are closed. Residents are advised that the upper parking lot, from Point Pleasant Drive, is closed.
Please note: During the provincial travel ban, dogs are permitted on-leash on Sailor’s Memorial Way from 10 a.m. until park closing. Existing off-leash rules remain in effect before 10:00 a.m.
- Shubie Park, where the campground, ballfield, Fairbanks Centre, pump track and supervised beach remain open. The trails, including the off-leash trail system and off-leash beach area, are closed.
Sir Sandford Fleming Park, where the beach/waterfront area and playground remain open, but the woods are closed.
- Could additional parks or trails be closed?
Yes. If park users do not follow these guidelines, the municipality may need to put further restrictions in place.
- Are beaches open?
Yes. Supervised beaches in municipal parks will remain open.
- How can I find out if a park or trail is closed?
The municipality is in the process of installing signage at impacted park spaces. There are over 900 municipal park spaces and signage installation, which is expected to take several days. Note that signage will not be installed for all parks. Regardless of the presence of signage, residents are required to adhere to these restrictions
Residents can contact 311 for more information. If it's a provincial park or trail, please contact the Department of Natural Resources.
For the latest information on restrictions in municipal park spaces, continue to visit this page for updates.
- Will signage be installed on all of the closed trails?
Due to the number of trail entrances, municipal staff are unable to install signage at every trail entrance that is closed. Residents are reminded that trails that run through the woods, regardless of the type of trail (i.e. paved, gravel, etc.) or the width of the path, are closed.
- Will trails still be maintained during these restrictions?
Residents are advised that the grass at municipal park spaces and trails that are closed will not be mowed or maintained at this time. Garbage bins will continue to be emptied at all park locations to support fire safety efforts. Service requests for affected areas may not be processed while these restrictions are in place.
- How are active transportation routes impacted?
These restrictions apply to trails that are part of any active transportation routes through woods. This includes the Mainland North Trail and the Chain of Lakes Trail, which are closed.
- Are recreation programs impacted by these restrictions?
If these restrictions affect any recreation programming, impacted users will be advised.
- How will these restrictions be enforced?
Residents are reminded that these restrictions will be enforced as necessary and that violating them may result in a provincial fine of $25,000.
Both Halifax Regional Police (HRP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members, along with the province’s Department of Natural Resources Conversation Officers, are authorized to issue summary offence tickets when required, which include a fine of $25,000 (+ surcharges).
- How do I report a violation?
If residents wish to report any violations of the restrictions, they can do so by contacting the province’s Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-565-2224.
- What is the municipality doing about those experiencing homelessness who may be sheltering in the woods?
The municipality’s Housing & Homelessness team continues to support individuals experiencing homelessness by visiting designated locations and encampment sites throughout the region to provide education and information about the Province of Nova Scotia’s Fire Proclamation – Travel Ban. The municipality's outreach and compliance staff are also, where needed, providing essential resources such as food support to help reduce the need for cooking fires.
With spaces currently available in provincial indoor shelters and temporary housing options, municipal staff and provincial service providers are actively working with those sheltering outdoors to connect them with appropriate indoor options to ensure compliance with the current provincial restrictions. Anyone in need of shelter or assistance is encouraged to contact 311 or speak with a local outreach worker to access available supports.
- Will the municipality close designated locations that are situated in woods, for example the Barrington Street green space? Will other designated locations be opened in non-wooded park spaces?
Currently, the municipality has not made decisions about closures but is actively visiting sites to monitor risk, provide education and ensure compliance. Municipal staff are working closely with the province’s Department of Opportunities and Social Development to support people to secure indoor housing wherever possible and reduce the overall fire risk. The municipality’s Housing & Homelessness staff will continue to monitor the situation and regularly conduct visits to designated locations to ensure compliance and awareness.