PUSLINCH ‒ One community group maintains the proposed accessibility improvements for Boreham Park will not perform as intended.
According to a new report attached to the proposed 2024 budget, township staff are recommending plantings be incorporated in Boreham Park to delineate an existing storm ditch line from the playground.
But while a local community group, the Concerned Citizens of Puslinch, is supportive of the new park and the idea of future renovations, they remain concerned council hasn't taken the proper safety measures to address the exposed stormwater ditches framing the green space.
The citizen's group has expressed several concerns in the past including worries about stormwater pathogens and general accessibility.
"I think the plantings are going to be quite appropriate for delineating where the park is and where the ditching goes," said Coun. Sara Bailey, who attended the ribbon cutting last week. "Hopefully it will help with some of the concerns we've had."
Resident Helmuth Slisarenko, a member of the Concerned Citizens of Puslinch, said he's not trying to be cynical but doesn't believe the proposed plantings will alleviate any of the problems previously identified.
As deep as six feet on three of the four sides, Slisarenko said the newly renovated play structure is so close to the storm ditch he doesn't believe the proposed plantings can offer a sufficient buffer and will leave park users potentially exposed to contaminants like E-Coli and listeria.
"It is my belief that staff, as directed by our mayor and council, are simply trying to mitigate their exposure to liability in any manner other than the simplest solution," said Slisarenko. "The error was that staff and council did not fully examine the landscape when the playground was planned and proposed."
Approving the strategy during a council meeting Wednesday afternoon, acting CAO and municipal clerk, Courtenay Hoytfox, said the plantings were the least costly of the four options at $2,500.
"We are totally unsatisfied. It’s like the Mayor and council never listened to us at all," said Bruce Taylor, whose property neighbours the park. (Before construction) the open ditches were eight, 10 feet away from the playground area. Now, they're only inches in some areas and at most a foot in others
Later in the meeting, Coun. Jessica Goyda suggested planting seedlings on the outside perimeter of the park but Director of Public Works, Parks, and Facilities, Mike Fowler said the idea was suggested and vetoed by the community in 2016.
Bernard Akuoko, from the CNIB, will be visiting the park with an Orientation and Mobility Specialist in a few weeks to review the changes.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
