privacy property ownership
Can a person block access to a public space? If so, how much public space?
<p>As an example:</p>

<p>Can I put a blanket in a public park and prevent anyone from sitting on it?</p>

<p>What if it's a really big blanket?</p>

<p>Can I decide to just block access to the whole park?</p>

<p>Answers relating to Canada are preferred, but American answers would be interesting too.</p>

<p>No, unless you administer the public space or are acting in the interests of safety (e.g police officer, gas utility worker). All public space is owned by someone; usually a local government.</p>

<p>You can <em>use</em> the space by e.g putting out a picnic blanket, even a very (but not absurdly) big blanket. The law does not prevent anyone from sitting on your blanket, however, social convention does and this can be more potent than the law.</p>

<p>If your use of the space impedes others use then they may complain to the administrator of the space (or the police); if they were to give you a lawful and reasonable order to stop doing whatever it is that was complained of and you didn't then you would be trespassing.</p>
