Have Your Say:
A walk in the Park

Residents want detailed information about Westmount Park project and a full and fair consultation process

August 22, 2021

We are disappointed but not surprised by the city’s brochure titled “A walk in the park”. In response to requests that the public be provided with detailed information about the park project and that a full and fair consultation process be implemented, the council has chosen to produce a promotional pamphlet (which at best fails to inform and at worst appears designed to mislead) and circulated it during the summer while a significant portion of the population of Westmount is away on vacation. The one page questionnaire is provided with a deadline to respond which expires August 20 and has no place for comments, a “final report” is scheduled for September.

As others have already pointed out, a full and fair process of consultation must include informing the public of the details of the planned changes, the costs of implementing them and the disruptions which would be caused to the park and the neighbourhood during the three years (likely more) estimated for their implementation. It should provide a forum for in person questions, comments and discussion. This brochure and questionnaire clearly do not qualify.

It seems that the council has already decided on a project that will leave no part of the park untouched and that it is rushing to its adoption, as is, using COVID restrictions to avoid any effective consultation or debate concerning the stated objectives or their implementation.

The main issues raised in the initial in person sessions of November 2019 related to the need for improved maintenance and supervision of the park and the quality of the playing fields; however, the proposed project appears to be a collection of showy ideas for pointless changes originating with Stantec, a multinational consulting firm with no knowledge or understanding of the community or the park, which council has accepted and supported without question or critical analysis. Many have expressed their dismay, pointing out the many flaws in these proposals, but council has shown no interest in the opinions of its constituents, however thoughtful and informed.

For many years Council has failed to find the initiative or funds to perform basic maintenance, now it has the time and funds for this unnecessary and overblown project and it is using the results of its failures of maintenance as a justification. Much of what is proposed is clearly not necessary (or desirable) and any valid objectives can surely be achieved with work done on a more modest scale, as and when required.

‘The pandemic has shown the importance of the park to the community. To deprive the population of the full use and enjoyment of much of this resource over three years or more is unconscionable. There is no substitute available.’

It seems that the council has already decided on a project that will leave no part of the park untouched and that it is rushing to its adoption, as is, using COVID restrictions to avoid any effective consultation or debate concerning the stated objectives or their implementation.

Council has not provided information concerning their own input or any objective evaluation (if any) made by them (or by experts unrelated to Stantec), no cost/benefit analysis, no feasibility studies, no indication that they have considered making adjustments taking into account the costs and the disruptions resulting from effectively turning the park into a construction site for (at the very least) three years.

The pandemic has shown the importance of the park to the community. To deprive the population of the full use and enjoyment of much of this resource over three years or more is unconscionable. There is no substitute available.

‘Fortunately there will be an election in November and we urge all Westmount residents to make it clear to the candidates that they cannot and will not vote for anyone who supports this project, or the council’s current approach to its implementation.’

Why is the council so eager to proceed with this unnecessary, expensive and disruptive project in the face of a clear lack of support and strongly negative reaction from many users of the park? Why is the council so reluctant to implement a full and fair process of review and consultation? Why the rush to implement? Why not delay until in person meetings and consultations are possible?

Westmount Park is exceptionally well designed for its purpose and it has evolved naturally in response to the needs and wishes of generations of users. How can the council be so confident that their “vision” (or, more accurately, Stantec’s) is an improvement? Why do they think they have the right to unilaterally impose this “vision” making unnecessary and disruptive (and, in the opinion of many, unattractive) changes to every aspect of the park, in the face of strong objections from those who use and love it? How can a council that decided that it was essential to preserve the nature and character of our heritage greenhouse turn around and impose major changes to the nature and character of the heritage park in which it is situated?

In any case, the question should not be “Are the Stantec proposals, when summarized in a manner most likely to appeal to an uninformed reader, acceptable?” It should be, for each element of the proposals, “Is it necessary?”, “Is it desirable?” “Is it worth implementing when you consider the cost and the fact that our park will be a construction site for years to come?” “Are the stated objectives desirable?” Does the proposal reflect the best approach to achieving any valid objective?”

Fortunately there will be an election in November and we urge all Westmount residents to make it clear to the candidates that they cannot and will not vote for anyone who supports this project, or the council’s current approach to its implementation.

Carol Holland
Melville Ave

Co-signed by:

Jan Fergus, Grosvenor Ave.

Marie Campbell, Academy Rd.

Joan McCordick, Abbott Ave.

Bonnie Shemie, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Judith Drake Mann, Victoria Ave.

Helen Petter, Kensington Ave.

Gloria Wilner, Westmount Square

Maxine Cuttler, Lansdowne Ave.

John Fretz, Lansdowne Ave.

Susan Joiner, Sherbrooke St.

Bill Gilsdorf, Sherbrooke St.

Sorel Cohen, Lansdowne Ave.

Gordon Cohen, Lansdowne Ave.

Elizabeth Cameron, Sherbrooke St.

Graham Donnelly, Melville Ave.

Leslie Barker, Melville Ave.

Marilyn Gillies, Melville Ave.

Patrick Barnard, Melville Ave.

Anne Elsdon, York St.

Elisabeth Galante, Victoria Ave.

Deana Silverstone, Grosvenor Ave.

George Ritter, Academy Rd.

Alexandra Hadaya, Mountain Ave.

Haidee Weldon, Victoria Ave.

Patrick O’Connor, York St.

Valerie Peck, Grosvenor Ave.

Jerry Portner, Somerville Ave.

Ruth Portner, Somerville Ave.

Christopher Rochfort, Olivier Ave.

Jane McGarrigle, Academy Rd.

Peter Weldon, Academy Rd.

Pat Machin, Park Place

Anne Gedalof, Irvine Ave.

Bruce Roberts, Irvine Ave.

Caroline Benchetrit, Academy Rd.

Nigel Goddard, Irvine Ave.

Zelia Craveiro, Lansdowne Ave.

Mavis Young, Melville Ave.

Beryl Watson, Belmont Ave.

David Nercessian, Irvine Ave.

Marie-Elaine Cusson, Abbott Ave.

Denis Biro, Burton Ave.

Kati Kemeny, Sherbrooke St.

Anna Coates, Claremont Ave

Lynda Taylor, Strathcona Ave.

Beverley Auerbach, Arlington Ave.

Michael Auerbach, Arlington Ave.

Casey Auerbach, Arlington Ave.

Kevin Auerbach, Arlington Ave.

Maureen Rowe, Lansdowne Ave.

Martha Belanger, Metcalfe Ave.

Margot Hovey, Academy Rd.

Belinda Bowes, Academy Rd.

Linda Corriveau, Academy Rd.

David Fielding, Academy Rd.

Nancy Holland, St Catherine St.

Ann Mary Schwartzman, Aberdeen Ave.

Anne Sutherland, Metcalfe Ave.

Constance Lechman, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Lorraine Deley, Sherbrooke St.

Cheryl Richards, Clandeboye Ave.

Susan Zegray, Ingleside Ave.

David Cronin, Roslyn Ave.

Amelie Cronin, Roslyn Ave.

Max Cronin, Roslyn Ave.

Judy Yelon, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Bev Chandler, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Sarah Ivory, Belmont Ave.

Victor Yelverton Haines, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Eliane Rivard, Victoria Ave.

Joan Graham, Olivier Ave.

Brenda Marquis, Strathcona Ave.

Maria Burke, the Boulevard

Virginia Elliott, Hillside Ave.

Erin Hogg, Windsor Ave.

Katherine Walsh, Grosvenor Ave.

Alaka McConnell, Grosvenor Ave.

Nancy Barr, Olivier Ave.

Andrew Sharp, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Silvia Bertoluzzi, Victoria Ave.

Leonora Bertoluzzi, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Sheila Mason, Melville Ave.

Barkman, Hallowell Ave.

Margaret Staff, Dorchester Blvd.

Vera Bondy, Sherbrooke St.

Janice Winslow, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Lyn Worrell Lansdowne Ave.

Nancy Brown, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Elaina Zuker, Sherbrooke St.

Julia Heathecote, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Ines Hearten-Greaven, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Leslie Alton Spivak, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Tamar Granovsky, Sherbrooke St.

Steve Behrends, Sherbrooke St.

Edda Bini Mastropasqua, Victoria Ave.

Robbin MacMillan, de Maisonneuve Blvd.

Celia Lang, Victoria Ave.

Howard Bussey, Victoria Ave.

Susan Mahon, Clarke Ave.

Robert Goulet, Sherbrooke St.

L. Carpentier, Prince Albert Ave.

L. Kryzanowski, Prince Albert Ave.

Aletha Thompson, De Maisonneuve Blvd.

Judy Philpott, Claremont Ave.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.

Dear reader,

Have Your Say allows you, the WestmountMag.ca reader, to submit an opinion on local news and events or any topic that you feel may be of concern or interest to the community.

To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names and city of residence must appear with each submission – pseudonyms are not permitted. By submitting an opinion, you accept that WestmountMag.ca has the right to edit and publish that opinion in whole or in part.

An opinion may be submitted in either official language at info@westmountmag.ca. Please note that WestmountMag.ca does not endorse the opinions expressed in Have Your Say.

Image: Pixabay