Tobogganing bylaw in Calgary lists only 18 legal locations

It's a favourite winter pastime for many, but did you know that tobogganing in undesignated areas in Calgary could land you a ticket?

There are 18 designated spots in Calgary for the popular winter activity. Sledding anywhere else is illegal and could land you a $100 fine.

Todd Reichardt, an employee of Calgary's parks department, saidthe city has not issued any tickets to rogue tobogganers. He said the city's aim inrestrictingthe activity to approved sitesis to ensure a safe experience for sledders.

"We have our staff go out weekly (and) they will inspect the sites to determine there is nothing impeding the toboggans as they go down the hill, " he said.

Reichardtadded that city staff will get rid ofany jumps that are builton the tobagganhills.

Delano Civitarese has been coming St. Andrew's Heights for years.He says it's one of the better tobogganing hills in the city.

"When I was younger just going off those jumps with friends sticking like four or five people on one toboggan and just having fun."

Civitarese had no idea the bylaw existed.

1,100Albertans injured last year

"I think it's pretty dumb. We're the ones putting ourselves at risk, right? I mean there should be no sort of enforcement on something like tobogganing."

Personal injury lawyer Stephen Nelson says this is all about liability, buthe's never come across a lawsuit involving a tobogganing injury in Alberta in his 35 years practising law.

"People in Canada know you fall off a toboggan when you down a hill and there's a chance of risk and everyone assumes that risk so there's no liability in normal situations."

Nelson saidthere was a recent casein Ontario but the claimantwas unsuccessful

Last year roughly1,100 Albertans visited the emergency room for tobogganing injuries. The highest number of those injuries wereyouth aged five- to 17-years-old.

As outlined in theParks and Pathways Bylaw, it is prohibited to toboggan or sled downhill in any park except in the parks listed below:

• Big Marlborough Parkdry pond - 6021 Madigan Dr. N.E.
• Confederation Park - 2800 10th St. N.W.(north side of park immediately west of Rosemont Community Centre).
• Deerfoot Athletic Park -14th Avenueand 16A StreetN.E.
• Glendale Park - 25 Avenue and 45th StreetS.W.(west side).
• Kingsland dry pond - Heritage Drive S.W. behind the Rose Kohnand Jimmie Condonarenas.
• Maple Ridgedry pond - Mapleglade Close S.E.
• Marlborough Community Association -636 Marlborough Way N.E.
• McKenzie Towne - 160 McKenzie Towne Dr. S.E.
• Monterey Park - Catalina Boulevardand California Boulevard N.E.(northeast corner only).
• Prairie Winds Park - 223 Castleridge Blvd.(north side of hill).
• Richmond Green - 33rd Avenueand 25 StreetS.W.
• Royal Oak - 50 Royal Birkdale Dr. N.W.(north side of hill).
• Rundledry pond - 4120 Rundlethorn Dr. N.E.(behind Rundle Elementary School).
• Sacramentodry pond - Sacramento Driveand 104th AvenueS.W.
• Scarboro-15th Avenueand 16th Street S.W.
• Signal Hill -Sirocco Drive and Signal Hill HeightsS.W.
• St. Andrew's Heights - 2504 13th AvenueN.W.
• Stanley Park - 4011 1AStreetS.W.