Ottawa EMC: Young mom calls for change
- Details
- Category: Other Updates & Local Campaigns
- Published on Monday, 19 December 2011 18:14
Jessica May is trying to raise her two children in a safe community.
But when she visits Michele Park with her three-year-old daughter and three-month-old son, she's tired of finding needles on the ground.
"Our children play in these parks and anything could be buried (in the sand)," said the 20-year-old May, who attended Ottawa ACORN's rally for safer parks on Dec. 6 at Michele Park. "When I first moved here, I didn't know it was going to be this bad."
May, who lives in an apartment building on Ramsey Crescent, said she got her first apartment in the community in September 2009. Since then, she's had issues at Michele Park when it comes to lighting and garbage and she worries about gang violence at night.
STABBING
She said she was also disturbed when a stabbing took place near her building.
"There was blood on my steps and I saw broken glass," May said, adding that she's been coping with depression because of where she lives.
"It's very terrifying," May said. "I never leave the house now (when it's dark). I get everything done when it's light out."
Bay Coun. Mark Taylor was also at the rally to hear residents' concerns.
He said it's important to him to work together with the community in coming up with a solution to the problems.
The city has made investments in Michele Park, Taylor said, and the community should take ownership of their parks.
"There's a lot more we can do," he said. "I want to do my share, but I want the community to do their share as well. I want to do it together with you guys. It won't work if we do this by ourselves."
He said he often sees plenty of people using Michele Park during the day, and in the summer there's also a community garden that draws more positive activity.
Taylor also mentioned that as part of the economic development strategy he's working on for Carling Avenue, he would consider adding Michele Park to make it even more vibrant.
"Maybe we'll look at a pathway that cuts through the park ... maybe we can do something permanent," he said.
Taylor has invited community leaders in the neighbourhood to the meetings he hosts every other month with community association presidents, but said addressing the issues will take more than just talk.
"I'm less concerned about meetings, and more concerned with actually doing something," he said.
"I'm about results. So let's figure out what we can accomplish."
