Meth lab park still a family spot
By Amey Humphries
The recent discovery of a makeshift meth lab on a picnic table in Dundonald Park and the arrest of the man allegedly responsible aren’t derailing efforts to revitalize the popular Centretown greenspace.
The meth lab was found on Sept 8. Laurence Wheatcroft, 40, has been charged in connection with the drug-making equipment.
“He was also arrested on outstanding warrants,” Ottawa Police spokesman Const. Marc Soucy told Centretown News by email.
The drug arrest came after high-profile efforts in recent years to clean up the park’s image and make it a vibrant community hub.
In 2012 the Centretown Community Health Centre led a project to turn Dundonald Park, located at the intersection of Somerset and Lyon streets, into a space everyone could enjoy. It was one of eight parks in Ontario chosen by 8 80 Cities, a non-profit organization that promotes green spaces and outdoor activities in urban areas.
Many steps have been taken since then in a bid to make the park – once known as a gathering place to drink and do drugs – a more family-friendly space. The park has a Facebook page, where Dundonald enthusiasts share news and pictures.
The park is also home to the annual Centretown Movies Outdoor Film Festival from mid-July through August. The festival has been located in Dundonald Park since 2006.
According to Kevin Jones, a City of Ottawa parks planner, the recent work to improve the park has paid off.
Friends of the park first replaced the structures around planting beds that are maintained by a gardening group, he said. The structures were wooden and had started to rot away.
According to Jones, that project was done in the fall of 2015, and park volunteers immediately started work on installing a new playground. The playground was completed in November 2016, he said, with a few minor adjustments being completed this spring. Swings, a climbing wall structure, and another playhouse were added.
Clearly, a pop-up meth lab was not part of that rehabilitation plan.
However, people in the area don’t seem too fazed by the incident.
Dundonald Park was thriving only a week later. Children were running around, playing on the playground. Couples were enjoying the sunshine, reading or talking together. Several of the numerous benches were filled with groups of people on the unusually warm fall day.
Dundonald Park is typically a busy place, Jones said. Although it might be limited in amenities, people like to sit and read or drink their coffee. Others, he said, practise tai chi.
“It’s a backyard,” he said.
One couple enjoying the park expressed their love of the Dundonald’s relaxing atmosphere. And they said they didn’t view the meth lab arrest as a serious deterrent from visiting.
“It’s one of those inner city things that’s going to happen,” Vee Robillard said.
“It’s a part of being in the city. You’ve got to keep your wits about you.”
“This is actually the very first time we’ve come to sit in the park,” said Lissa Robillard. “I would definitely come back.”
She did express concern given the presence of children in the park and the surrounding area.
“Maybe they need more police presence?” she offered.