A small park that attracted thousands of Pokemon Go players has disappeared from the popular mobile game after complaints that the once grassy spot has turned to mud.
The backlash in the Sydney suburb of Rhodes is the latest battle between avid players of the augmented-reality game and authorities unhappy with the crowds it can attract.
“Weekends, particularly at night, there were up to a 1,000-1,500 people in the park,” City of Canada Bay Council’s deputy mayor Helen McCaffrey.
“The grass is no longer there and residents after three-and-a-half weeks were just over it,” she said of Peg Paterson Park, which has a playground and is surrounded by tall apartment buildings.
“When a rare Pokemon was caught, there would be a cheer and cars would honk as the traffic was becoming horrific. I spoke to somebody a couple of days ago who was coming in from Penrith [45km away] to play.”
The council encouraged residents to complain directly to the game’s developer, US-based software company Niantic, to ask for the park to be deleted from the game after they complained of “complete chaos” and rubbish being dumped.
“All three pokestops removed. Not a single soul left in the park. NOT ONE,” wrote a Facebook user late on Monday, while another added: “For the people still convinced that Rhodes is still the hot spot ... let it go, mourn the loss ... it’s dead! GONE!”