It might look like a Dugtrio, but that's not what Pokemon Go players are leaving behind at Parkinson Rec Centre.
Image Credit: Contributed
July 27, 2016 - 9:00 PM
"THEY SIT HERE FOR HOURS"
KELOWNA – Ever since it became one of the most popular stops for players of Pokemon Go, staff at a local recreation centre have had to catch some of their own little monsters.
Parkinson Recreation Centre is a Kelowna pokestop on the wildly popular smartphone game. Late into the evening, as many as 50 people may be found still roaming the grounds. It’s caused problems for security and attracted police who show a sense of humour about it. But the number one problem is actually a number two problem, City of Kelowna recreation and business services manager Lori Angus says.
“There was a comment from janitorial staff that people are defecating in the park,” Angus says. “They didn’t go into detail… they just made a report earlier this week.”
Players are on the grounds catching digital pocket monsters all night but the facilities close at 10 p.m. leaving players with nowhere else to, er, go.
“Things are very different here these days,” Angus says. “It’s taken over.”
She says while it's not yet an emergency, the problem has burbled up so suddenly they haven’t had a chance yet to even discuss their options.
And it’s not just public defecation worrying staff.
“Security is having a problem every night,” she says. “(The players) are always cooperative but for one guard alone it’s intimidating when you’ve got 50 people standing around in the dark.”
Angus, who has not yet tried the game, says staff are happy to see so many new faces around the centre but that it will take them some time to adjust.
“At this point the whole Pokemon thing is a new challenge,” she says. “It’s nice to see so much positive activity and it’s provided some much needed change, but we have started to receive reports so we’ll be having conversations. Right now there is nothing firm.”
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News from © iNFOnews, 2016