Editor, The News:
The feedback from the majority of residents is they do not want an off-leash dog area in Westview Park.
So what happened at last week’s council meeting?
Our voices were not heard.
The people who live in the neighbourhood say no.
Instead, people who are not residents of the neighbourhood are forcing the dog park upon us, albeit a six-month trial to garner feedback, which they have already received.
It’s bad enough we have homeless people who live in the park. We have drug dealers in the park and the high school kids utilize the park as a smoke pit.
The plus side?
The area is heavily in use already with tons of children playing sports on nearby fields, and wee little ones playing on the playground and at the bike park.
The high school and elementary school use the park as part of their outdoor recreation programs.
Not to mention that kids cut through the park to go to and from school.
Current bylaw signs everywhere state to leash and clean up after your dog, but the rules are not being enforced.
Maybe these new signs enforcing rules for the unwanted dog park will generate enough revenue to replace the tax dollars that are currently being wasted.
Perhaps they can also pay for the mess that will be left behind and ideally, permit parking for the residents, considering there is no available parking as it stands.
Juliana Plesner
Maple Ridge