Previous
Where children play
A couple of weeks ago, the Township’s parks manager, Bob Ferguson, brought a report to Council (which Council had requested), analyzing the condition and usage of the Township’s various playgrounds. Because of low usage and/or bad condition of the equipment, Mr. Ferguson suggested phasing out four of the playgrounds, and moving some of their salvageable equipment to other locales; the South Balsam playground, to be moved to Beechwood Street; Toronto Street North, to be moved to Uxpool; Goodwood North Park, to be moved to the South Park; and King Street, to be demolished altogether.
Although some of the other playgrounds had low usage or some bad equipment, they were deemed as essential to their respective communities, and it was recommended they should stay in some form or other. Council asked Mr. Ferguson to take another look at his list, and see what could be done to maintain some of the others.
Predictably, whenever citizens are asked to give up a benefit from any level of government, it didn’t take long for letters of protest to arrive. At this week’s Council meeting, there was correspondence vigorously defending the Goodwood North Park and the King Street Park by long-time, continuing users of those playgrounds. On this page you will see a similar letter from a habituee of the South Balsam Park; from the tone of her letter, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her and her neighbours laying down in front of the equipment if the Township attempts to dismantle their beloved playground.
A difficulty with any further action on this front is that Mr. Ferguson’s report wasn’t very specific in terms of the data he used to make his recommendations. Exactly how was some of the equipment no longer safe? Could it be repaired (at what cost) or would it have to be replaced (at what cost)? What exactly do the terms low, medium or high usage mean in hard numbers, and how did he gather that data? Certainly Mrs. Pratt’s letter about the South Balsam Park would indicate that the playground gets high, not low, usage, at least at certain times of the day or week.
When Mr. Ferguson brings his report back, he needs to answer some of these questions. Perhaps in a series of neighbourhood meetings, he and the relevant ward councillor need to discuss realistically the problems with the playgrounds, and how those problems can be resolved, to continue to give the kids a place to play.
