The anger and frustration of a group of residents at last Monday night’s council meeting was palpable. They described break-ins, vandalism, littering, drinking taking place in and near RCMP Park. Clear in their presentation was that they felt of fear and lack of safety from living near the park, which they said had been overrun by people who were misusing the space as a gathering area to drink, do drugs and loiter.
Anyone who has experienced a break-in, had something stolen from them, or lived in a place where they were left on edge knows how unsettling and violating an experience this can be. It’s an experience no one should have to undergo, as home should be a place of safety for everyone.
For the residents attending the meeting, it might have seemed like council was waffling, since they had raised their issues with the town before, but that fear was answered with decisive action. Council took the line that residents should not feel like they are beating their head against a wall repeatedly with no success, and went a step further than residents had even asked, by proposing to fence a problematic walkway and the park itself.
Fencing off the park might create some issues of aesthetics, or, as council originally expressed, the possibility that the people misusing the park may just gather elsewhere to cause problems. But now council has taken the step to try and protect a space that should be a welcoming, safe spot for people, families and children looking to enjoy the outdoors.
Figuring out how to prevent the problems of vagrancy, homelessness and addiction remain the greater problem for the town, and society as a whole, and involve the forethought, cooperation and support of many more people than the seven people that make up council.
