With the extra-long winter finally over, residents of Sylvan Lake want to make the most out of the beautiful weather by taking in some outdoor fitness classes, and now the town is taking steps to make it easier to host those events without costing and arm and a leg or interfering with anyone else’s experiences in public spaces.

The town gave their first reading to a mobile vending and busking bylaw on Monday, which would create a new category of leisure and fitness class vendors covered under that bylaw.

Communications Officer with Sylvan Lake Joanne Gaudet says vendors will get a discount if they offer at least one free public class hosted in the green space.

“That’s because it’s a public space and someone might happen to come by…we’ve all seen the videos and movies where there is two girls hiding in the trees trying to take part in the yoga class for free. So we are giving a bit of a promotion to vendors who do offer services for the public free drop in.”

Gaudet says park access and special events permits are still available for larger scale events and/or initiatives, and you can also apply to host a special event with the park, or obtain a park access permit, which is required for any person or group intending to use public space for a reason outside it’s intended purpose, such as a fitness class.

Yoga on the beach is one of the more popular outdoor programs that utilize the public green spaces in Sylvan Lake. Photo courtesy of Sylvan Lake's Facebook page.

A monthly permit for public green space use without offering a free drop-in class is $120, weekly is $40, and daily is $20.

Offering a free public class cuts those costs significantly.