More police, new bylaw clamp down on fake homecoming street parties near McMaster

Dozens of police officers used drones, a new bylaw and two blocks worth of caution tape to keep Saturday's largest fake McMaster homecoming party mostly under control and off the rooftops.

But police stayed busy late into the night clamping down on smaller parties that spilled onto lawns or into the street throughout Ainslie Wood and Westdale, later ordering partygoers off of Gary Avenue and closing a portion of Main Street West while officers dispersed another crowd near Bowman Street.

The number of students on Dalewood Avenue - party central Saturday - swelled close to 2,000, but the city and Hamilton police declared the gathering a nuisance party" and ordered everyone off the street shortly after 5 p.m.

The treelined, west-end street was largely clear by 7:30 p.m., although a double line of more than 40 officers was needed to slowly walk the most stubborn partygoers back to Main Street where they eventually scattered. (Police on scene said Dalewood would be monitored to try to dissuade a late-night street party return.)

It could have been worse, said Luke Bentham, who watched the crowd swell in front of his sister's taped-off front yard in the late afternoon.

It's a lot of people, but there's no one on the roof ... so that's already better (than last year)," he said with a shrug, as whooping students danced under a Loco for HoCo' sign.

Last year, thousands of students filled the streets near McMaster University - trampling lawns, swinging from trees, clambering on rooftops and destroying a car - on the day of the Marauders football team's first home game of the season.

The problems prompted council to pass a special nuisance party bylaw with beefed up fines just last month. The city said Saturday some fines were issued under the new bylaw, but no details were immediately available that night.

This year, the rooftops on Dalewood stayed mostly off-limits - although one resident pointedly emailed The Spec a photo of at least one exception.

This year, Hamilton police patrolled the street party with help from officers from London, ON. Call it mutual aid, after Hamilton officers helped out during a recent, similar homecoming-type street party in the Forest City.

I think (police and the city) are better prepared this time," Bentham said. They're working with them, not trying to snuff the whole thing out."

This time, access to almost every home and lawn on Dalewood - which was also party central last year - was blocked ahead of time with police tape by noon. The city, meanwhile, parked large trucks strategically at intersections to prevent most vehicles from reaching the street.

A large police drone whirred over neighbourhoods south of the university, monitoring where crowds were growing, and horses with the mounted unit patrolled the outskirts.

Police also made a point of taking selfies with students and cheerfully advising would-be tree climbers and too-obvious street drinkers to think twice.

The only moment of mayhem arrived when someone tossed colourful smoke grenades into the crowd when police called on partygoers to disperse. Officers quickly hustled the gleeful grenade-tossers away.

It's nice. This is definitely much less crazy than last year," said McMaster student Mimi Hassan, with a pointed nod to a nearby tree that last year was immortalized in photos and video of students swingingly dangerously from branches high above the avenue.

Everyone is being more respectful of each other. It's good."

This year, the only tree climbers were quickly chased out by police - and few, if any partiers ended up on the rooftops, to the relief of several homeowners who anxiously watched from behind police tape Saturday.

Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com