Dear Mr. Alderman,

I’ve noticed a disturbing trend as of late, sparked by the newsletter you left in my mailbox. The trend is to suggest that dogs and their owners are one group responsible for the destruction of our city parks. And, that we should control park usage to prevent more damage.

While I agree with this on one level, I would like to point out a few things that you may have overlooked. And, I would like to use photos as a means of demonstrating my point.

This first picture comes from the off-leash dog park that we take our dog to most evenings. It’s very pretty with lots of green space and nice things to smell. Even though some park users insist that there are deer and coyotes in the bushes, I have only ever seen the occasional mouse or rabbit hanging around.

This second photo is of our dog doing what he does best: sniffing around and enjoying himself in the grass. Occasionally he will cut one of his paws on glass left behind by midnight bush partiers. Perhaps their freedom should be taken away.

This third photo is of the eyesore that the city put in last spring. One or two people “complained” that the park area was dangerous to walk on* and that the dogs were destroying the landscape. The city reacted by putting in a pathway made of loose gravel. Now, whenever it rains the rocks on the pathway wash down the hills and destroy vegetation.

Notice the deep ruts next to the path? These were made by city trucks. None of these ruts were repaired when the city left and they litter the entire park.

(*Please note: while I was pregnant I slipped a total of six times on this loose gravel. I’ve also seen many regular park-goers slip on the gravel and hurt themselves.)

This fourth photo better demonstrates the mess left behind by the city. Not only did they do absolutely nothing to fix any of the damage that they made, but they eventually gave up on the path system after it repeatedly washed out.

These last two photos are of the new monstrosity recently added to the dog park; a really ugly cell tower (RUCT). I’m disappointed that there was no effort to disguise the RUCT’s extreme ugliness because it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Mr. Alderman, even though in your newsletter you said: “…we worked with the applicants to find other suitable locations — the first option being to hide the equipment in existing structures…”, I don’t see any hiding going on.

This is a picture of the base of the tower. What once was a beautiful field full of mice and happy playing doggies now looks like the entrance to a strip mine.

I would like to think that the city and Telus/Bell will repair some of this damage; however, I won’t hold my breath. If Telus/Bell/the City cared about keeping this area looking nice the RUCT wouldn’t be on parkland, it would be at Crowfoot Centre down the street.

Mr. Alderman, I am in our community parks every day and I quite frankly don’t see dogs doing damage; I see the city doing damage and allowing damage to be done. And, as a dog walker, voter, taxpayer and community member I have to say that I have been extremely tolerant of the damage that the city does to our community.

Perhaps instead of pointing general fingers in the direction of dog walkers and other park users, the city should lead by example; or, at the very least clean up after themselves.

Sincerely yours,

Sharbean and Stryder the Dog