Where's the fence for our park?

When the city began construction on a new play structure in Hanmer, my first thought was, "Could they have picked a more dangerous location?" My sentiments were echoed by almost every parent I spoke with at my playgroup, or at Kindermusik, or around the neighbourhood.

The new park is located right in front of the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre. Highly visible, but surrounded by roads. A major highway on one side (the speed limit is 60 km/hr, but we all know people are driving much faster), a major road on the other, and a parking lot right beside. All we could ask was, "What were they thinking?" Many parents wondered if anyone was consulted about this location. They wondered why they didn't just replace the aging play structure by the soccer fields, in a seemingly safer location.

Then, they started building a water/spray park next to the new play structure. Okay, so this location was selected because the city could access water more easily there. Still, we assumed once the park was finished, a fence would be put up to enclose this area, and make it a safe place to bring our children to play.

The snow fence was removed from around the play structure a few weeks ago. The city had a sign up saying "Park Closed", but that didn't stop people from bringing their children to check it out. Despite the construction going on outside of the recreation centre, people are still frequenting the park. It is good that families are using the play structure, but many parents are anxious of having to make sure their children don't run onto the road.

The spray park was officially functional on Monday, June 21. It was a hot day, and many families came to check it out. I didn't make it there until Thursday, June 25. It too was a busy evening. Kids kept pushing the water timer, and the water was not draining from the splash pad. It was like a shallow wading pool with about a foot of water collecting above the two small drains.

There were kids of all ages, and quite a few toddlers. Parents were being very diligent about watching their children, but at 6pm, the traffic on the roads was high. I was feeling very nervous because I know how quickly my daughter can run, and I wasn't sure if I could get to her if she headed for the road. Plus, I had my son, in a stroller. I would often have to leave him to follow her around the park.

I was not the only single parent. Many single mothers, and fathers, were there with more than one child. It certainly makes for an active time at the park, if you have to run after your children, and make sure they don't head for the streets (remember two major, high traffic roads and a parking lot). We finally a play structure that is safe for little ones, but the location is less than ideal.

If you have a pool in your yard, you have to have a fence around it. The way the water was (not) draining, the water park was essentially a wading pool. Shouldn't the city have a fence around it? It should be a no brainer. I shouldn't have to call, and ask if it is in the plans. It is not, by the way. I did call, and Kevan Moxam told me they are not planning on putting a fence around the park. They might put a fence near the parking lot, but the roads are "quite a distance" from the play structure, and the ditches should be a deterrent to the children running on the road.

The play structure is one of three, new, handicap accessible play structures going up in the city. The other two are located at James Jerome (Lily Creek, off Paris, behind the new soccer field. It is supposed to open in August), and Ridgecrest Park (off LaSalle). It is a wonderful play structure. I think the best part is the spongy ground underfoot. One parent described it like "walking on the moon".

Most parents like how children of all ages and capabilities can use this play structure. The reason we have it now is because the Accessibility Advisory Panel did a survey of the city, and found there were no fully accessible and inclusive play structures in the City of Greater Sudbury. The panel feels "having all children play together promotes the participation of children with disabilities and their families and facilities the development of attitudes of acceptance and respect and dignity amongst all individuals". The city council agreed and set aside about $220,000 for the play structures. As we can see from the signage as well, the federal government contributed money as part of their ActionPlan initiative.

Why this dangerous location? The people on the Accessibility Advisory Panel picked this location for a reason. There was already access for handicapped individuals because this plot of land is located right beside the handicap parking spaces in front of the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre. Okay, so that is great, but the roads are still a concern. Wouldn't you want to protect the children playing in this area? If this play structure is meant to be used by everyone, shouldn't it be safe for everyone?

I was told to get a list of everyone who has concerns and to send Kevan Moxam an email voicing these concerns. Better yet, people who are concerned should call the city and ask to speak to him directly. Ask about the location, tell him you do not feel your child is in a safe location.

Here are other reasons I was given for this particular location:

• New parks are being placed in highly visible, public areas. (To see our tax dollars at work?)
• Wouldn't you feel safer having your child play in a public park, as opposed to a secluded park?
• To build it by the soccer fields would mean building water pipes to that location, the cost would be too high, the water park wouldn't have been built.
• This location was selected for its accessibility. The public doesn't realize there are many factors to consider when building new play structures.
• Benches and a sun shelter are also in the plans.
• The James Jerome park is located right on Paris Street, and it doesn't have a fence either. (But there is a soccer field in front of it, and a fence in front of the soccer field.)

Another concern is that the water from the spray park is not being recycled or at the very least re-purposed. The drain for the splash pad is going into the ditch and the water is being wasted. This spring we were dealing with extremely low water levels, and water conservation is a serious concern for us. We certainly take our water for granted in Canada, but we shouldn't. If the city is going to spend money building facilities that use water, they should be mandated to think of ways to reuse this water.

If recycling the water through the spray park is too expensive (because you would have to treat it before it comes back through the system), then figure out a way to reuse the water elsewhere. A water park in Morden, Manitoba was going to reuse the water for trees and flowers in the city that needed watering. If the cost of having a recycling program for the water was too much, maybe the city shouldn't have built the spray parks. Private citizens will probably have to experience a water ban, or some form of water conservation this summer. The city should be accountable too.

If you want a fence around your new parks, please call the city (311) and speak with Kevan Moxam, or email him at kevan.moxam@greatersudbury.on.ca with your concerns. Or, leave you name on the post, and we can start a sort of online petition.