City to install barrier in St. Luke’s Park

By Marie Nyhus

St. Luke’s Park will remain largely unchanged as park goers agreed to scrap any major changes after three public meetings and months of discussion with the City of Ottawa.

In December, the community reached a consensus on future plans for the neighbourhood park on Elgin Street, popular with families and basketball players. Park users also say that a healing process has started as last year’s tensions between the basketball players and other groups of park users are beginning to disappear.

“[The plans] are very close to status quo – but status quo with improvements,” says Paul Landry, senior project manager in the city’s parks and recreation department.

The layout of St. Luke’s Park will not change but a barrier will be constructed to separate the basketball court from the pool and playground area, increasing security. The fences around the park will also be renovated. The plans cannot be implemented until city council approves the 2007 budget.

The park’s redevelopment became an issue last spring after a conflict in the park arose between basketball players and other users.

Some park goers had accused the basketball players of improper conduct including swearing, drinking and urinating in the park. The players said city tried to drive them out by lowering the basketball nets from 10 to seven feet so only children could use the courts. Eventually, it was found that only very few players were causing problems so the nets were returned to their regular height.

The conflict raised the issue of how St. Luke’s could be designed to accommodate different users without interfering in each other’s space. One suggestion was to move the field house in the park, at a cost of $1 million, to separate the basketball courts from the children in the playground. But in a series of public meetings, the community decided against the move.

Both families and players say they are happy with the community’s consensus.

“The basketball players have no problem with the court the way it is now. I believe there are much more pressing issues to spend $1 million on,” says Lee Mullowney, a player representative and Ottawa lawyer who has played basketball in St. Luke’s Park since 2000.

After a suggestion to pave the green space in the east end of the park, some in the community started a petition opposing the move.

“Those signatures were not difficult to get. I think what people realized is that by paving over the east end of the park, you would take away a key area for children,” says Philip Hughes, who helped organize the petition that received support from more than 200 people. “They would be the losers. This park is terrific the way it is.”

The park users also say the wounds are starting to heal after a period of conflict and accusations.

“There has been a feeling among some of the people that use the basketball court that they were unwanted, but I believe the players have regained their trust in the community. There has been a lot done on both sides in mediation in this process and the healing process has started,” says Mullowney.

Hughes agrees.

“Well, let’s face it, there’s been some conflict in the past, but I believe it’s settled now and that people are ready to move on.”