Dear Editor
July 25, I attended a city council meeting to request improvements to Borden Crescent Park. In July of 2009 I attended a city council meeting to address the same issue. I was told then they would have to see about the budget. So, in two years, they found enough money to replace a three-foot board. If this all they can afford, our city must be in trouble.
This time they said they would wait until 2012 before anything would be done, if anything at all. Councillor Houk said at the meeting in 2009 they wanted to look at all the parks. Well, there are not that many parks for it to take two years.
I also do not recall anyone else approaching city council with a petition of 80 signatures wanting to see improvements to their parks. In the meantime there has been new parks built in Killdeer and Fairview Heights areas, which are very nice, and it did not take four years for city council to see if there was money in the budget to build them.
And, as Councillor Crush said, they are just "pocket parks." So, why is Borden Crescent Park so different?
Councillor Crush also said when his children were small he would take them to a better and safer park, like Kinsmen Park. He said parents have to show some responsibility when their kids are out there. I told them how unsafe Borden Park is without a fence near the alley, which is very busy. I agree parents have to take responsibility for their children's safe play, but the city should some responsibility too, when unsafe conditions are pointed out to them.
We are not asking the city to fence the whole park, just the one side along the alley.
I believe the city is focusing on big projects and forgetting about the little ones. But the little projects are just as important when it comes to safety.
It seems to me there is never any money in the budget, but we have lovely flowerpots all over the city with people being paid to water them. And I have seen three guys with shovels throwing asphalt on a hole in the street. How much other money is wasted?
I truly disagree with council's decision. I think the decision is a "put-off" for improvements to Borden Crescent Park, hoping we will shut up and forget about it. I cannot understand why it takes four years to have improvements made. If council did not find money in two years, is four years going to make a difference? They should take their flowerpots and put them in the park. Then there would be something there.
Gerald Gratton
North Battleford
