SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE – Resident Angie Gery lives around the corner from Claude-Robillard park and walks through it often.
A mother of three, she wants her children to enjoy the swing set, merry-go-round and even play in the sand – but this park is not equipped for that.
“If you look in the park, there’s always glass and broken bottles,” said Gery.
“Parents have even found condoms and rusty nails.”
According to some residents, the park has been neglected and needs a complete renovation.
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They insist the structures in the playground are old, rusted and are no longer safe for children.
Wendy Blake lives down the street and said her kids played at the playground over 20 years ago.
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“The exact same equipment has been here since my kids played here,” she told Global News.
“In fact, every time I walk by it I kind of laugh because it’s exactly the same.”
Residents insist some park benches need to be replaced, the abandoned baseball field revamped and new lights must be installed for those walking at night.
According to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa, the city didn’t even know the park was in such bad shape until Monday night’s city council meeting when they were presented with a petition to revamp it.
“I went door-to-door and a lot of people agreed that it was unsafe,” said Gery, adding about 100 people have signed the petition asking for action.
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Hawa told Global News the safety of the residents is her main priority.
“We’re going to be cleaning it up in the next few weeks to make it safe and, obviously, that is the number one priority,” she told Global News.
Hawa said because the park can’t be seen from the street, there are some challenges.
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“We have to be very careful for what we put in there because we don’t want it to be a hangout for people that do illicit things,” she said.
Until then, the fate of the abandoned park is up in the air.
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