Conservation authorities trying to lure Pokémon Go players to their parks

Local conservation authorities are putting calls out to Pokémon Go players in the hopes that the game draws more people to explore their green spaces.

The Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) has a web page encouraging Pokémon Go players to visit conservation areas.

"Grab your mobile phone and some poké balls to hunt for Pokémon in our conservation parks," it reads. "Try your luck at finding Pikachu."

As for the quality of the characters they're finding, I couldn't say.- Cam Linwood, Grand River Conservation Authority

And Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is even dropping lures at certain times to get players to visit one of their Glen Morris-area properties, where apparently numerous Pokémon are found.

The game has an outdoor aspect, since players have to walk a certain number of kilometres to hatch eggs, said HCA spokesperson Sarah Gauden. They also have to walk to find Pokémon.

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Gauden has mostly seen players at Westfield Heritage Village and in Dundas Valley. They've even been playing on horseback.

"We haven't really had any crowds yet, just occasional people," she said.

The GRCA takes a more proactive approach. It wants more people to visit Pinehurst Lake Park, so it's dropping lures during the off hours. Lures are a way to draw more Pokémon, and the park is apparently a hot spot, said spokesperson Cam Linwood. 

"As for the quality of the characters they're finding, I couldn't say," he said. 

Conservation Halton encourages Pokémon Go players via social media, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has a similar web page encouraging players.

So far, there are few negatives

Conservation authorities aren't the only publicly-funded agencies hoping the game draws more attention to their green spaces.

Hamilton city officials are looking at offering free WiFi at Gage Park to accommodate the players there.

So far, the city has only had one negative incident on one of its properties. Word spread once that a rare Pokémon was at Battlefield Park in Stoney Creek, and so many people showed up that it jammed the parking lot.

Bylaw officers had to go out and direct traffic, Tennessee Propedo, the city's manager of parks and cemeteries, told CBC Hamilton this month.

There were no major concerns, he said. "It was more like, 'What's going on here? Why is everybody here?'"

Propedo said he hopes it gets more people out appreciating the city's long-standing parks, rather than "sitting in front of a computer."