SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An incident at the Fieldhouse playground two weeks ago has forced the city to reiterate the areas' rules of use.

The city has clarified the rules of use for the Fieldhouse playground after a confrontation between a parent and Fieldhouse employee two weeks ago. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

The posted rules say, "Play area is solely for children five years and under."

After a run-in with a Fieldhouse employee and later a bylaw officer for having his two 12-year-old daughters in the playground with his three-year-old, Bruce Fowler, a frequent user of the facility, said the stated rules aren't clear enough.

Fowler said he has brought his 12-year-old daughters with him to the play area more than a dozen times without issue, but on March 15, after they were seen playing with his three-year-old, they were told they were not allowed in the area and later asked to leave.

"I was quite shocked," he said. "I've been there 14 times. I thought if there was an issue I would have been approached (by) all the other city staff that have seen me there with my children.

"I need clarity on this rule. I don't see it written down there. I would like a clear precise rule. Show me where it says that my children are not allowed in this room."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said older children are allowed in the area, but only if they are sitting on the sidelines.

"You can't have great big 12 year olds playing with little tiny three year olds or playing with each other while there's little three year olds in a public facility because there's a size difference and there's a mobility difference," said Van Tighem. "So if big sister, big brother is sitting there watching little sister, little brother, that's cool."

Older children are allowed to supervise children five and under while in the facility, but anyone above the age of five cannot climb on the play equipment with the kids, said Van Tighem.

The play area was created as a place for young children to go while their older siblings are participating in soccer or other sports activities, said Van Tighem.

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