Editor:
Re: Street FUN-iture pop up parks
In view that the City of Delta is planning to reinstall street FUN-iture pop-up parks, I am compelled to write to you regarding my experience with this misguided concept.
During the morning hours, the games are used well by younger children accompanied by their parents and or their grandparents. As the day lingers on and due to the lack of any supervision and a responsible management plan for this park and its contents, by the city's Parks, Recreation and Culture Department, the games are put through a grueling test by teens who have a disregard for the rules of the games and a lack of respect for other people around them.
During the late evenings, the pop-up park is transformed into a free for all. This includes displays of mischief and bad behaviour just to mention a few; bocce balls launched as projectiles from one end of the park to the other; cyclists riding through and around it; ping-pong balls removed and replaced with golf balls; an office front window broken; disregard to vacate the park at the posted time; partygoers plied with libations playing on loudly and into the early hours of the next morning; users casually seated at patio tables sharing Bong pipes.
Bridge Street is a main thoroughfare for private and commercial vehicles in the Village of Ladner. At the best of times, finding an already limited parking space on this street is infuriating. There is a large residential area nearby that has been inconvenienced by the park on this street. Also, there are professional businesses that scallop the park area. Patients/clients in need of these professional services can no longer be conveniently dropped off, and, have to precariously navigate their way to their appointments.
Clearly, Bridge Street from Harbour Stroll to Delta Street is not a suitable location for a pop-up park. The rationale for this concept on Bridge Street is incomprehensible, and, its re-installation is very worrisome.
Carol R. LeVasseur
