City Council’s special meeting with residents of the Hart has put several community issues up for discussion.
More than 140 people gathered at the Hart Pioneer Centre to talk about housing, parks and recreation, transit, and many other hot topics.
Some are worried that there isn’t enough for young people to do in the area without having to go into downtown, and it may be affecting businesses.
“There are a lot of kids who don’t have anything to do all day now that school is out,” says Business-owner Sammi Fuller, “They hang out in the parking lot, bike around, litter… I’ve had my plants pulled up, my neighbour had his window vandalized, I’ve had graffiti on the walls of my building… They just need something to do.”
Many people are hoping for the addition of a new skate park, and they’ve shown council that Bravery Park is the ideal location.
“The community mentioned it to us, so we’ve been working on that particular location and it seems to fit the need quite well,” says Mayor Lyn Hall, “Maybe the community can do some fundraising, and then the remainder for a $400,000 to $450,000 project can be talked about in council in the fall, and we’ll use it as part of our budget discussions.”
Hall thinks construction could start next April if the process runs smoothly.
While people were excited about the potential addition, many were upset about the condition and use of other parks.
One resident described Heather Road Park as a disaster, with missing fence, broken glass, and general mess turning the old baseball diamond into an unofficial ATV trail.
Some suggested the park be transformed into a fenced, off-leash dog-walking area that is closer to their home than Duchess Park.
“I think it’s a great idea,” says Hall, “I’m not sure if it’s the right location, but if the community recognizes it as the location, we need to speak with them and see what we can do about having it there.”
Full details from the meeting will be posted on the City website on July first, and residents can expect similiar meetings in the future.
“We want to keep coming back, we don’t want to walk away for four year now. We need to come back.”
Similar meetings are being planned for Blackburn, College Heights, and the Bowl in the fall.
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