© The Associated PressToronto is considering banning some kite flying in city parks.
A report going to the Parks and Environment Committee next week recommends a ban on kites with strings made of hazardous materials including fishing line or piano wire.
The report also recommends a permit process for competitive kite flying and a ban on kites in parks that have "significant bird activity."
City staff are calling for a $300 fine for any infraction.
The action comes after kite flying was banned in Scarborough's Milliken Park last year. A Scarborough councillor complained that sharp, dangerous pieces of string were being left in local parks after kite-fighting competitions.
Discarded kite string left in the park caused injuries to animals and damaged city equipment.
Some kite-flying enthusiasts are advocates of kite fighting - where two kites do aerial battle, trying to cut the string of their opponent. The problem is that the kite string - which in many cases is as strong as fishing line - can get caught in trees or left on the ground, where birds and other small animals can get tangled up.
Gogi Malik, a kite-flying enthusiast, said for the most part, the kite-flying community is on board with the city's recommendations.
"If anybody is going to fly in a park or anywhere, they should have a permit so everybody knows who is flying what," Malik said.
City council is scheduled to vote on the regulations next week.
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