Mayor to visit Carruthers park, address resident concerns
Terry Vachon, director of parks and recreation, told council the berm was placed to address safety concerns but could potentially be removed. “The berm is a temporary measure to keep cars from parking on the corner (of Robertson and Fisher), where the road is only one and a half cars wide. ‘No parking’ signs have been purchased but have not yet been installed. Once the signs are in place, if residents and council want the berm removed, it can be done.”
Heike Dreibelbis, a Robertson Street resident, says the new pathway through the park has no apparent environmental, safety or natural habitat benefit, and that the berm limits access to the playground and picnic pavilion area. “My mother is 86 and lives with me. She likes to walk her dog in the park, but now that access is blocked. Occasionally, I see one car parked there — very rarely two cars. If parking is the issue, they should have put up a ‘No Parking’ sign. That money could have been better spent.”
The total cost of the project was $37,500, which was split between the township and Simcoe County.
Hilary Venziale, another Avening resident, noted that during a bank stabilization project led by the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority last year, grass in the park was torn up and never replanted. “Where there used to be a nice picnic area alongside the river, now it’s just a muddy pit. And the berm was dumped on top of fence posts. It literally looks like someone just came in and threw up dirt on our park.”
Doug Measures, the mayor, committed to visiting the site within the next couple of weeks and working with township staff to ensure the situation is remedied to the satisfaction of residents.
Editor’s note: The reporter is a resident of Avening and a regular user of the park.
