Hmmmm....

Subject: Fence @ Greenbank Park
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From: Robyn Smith <bretondaphne@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 1:40 PM
To: carol.valpy@ottawa.ca

Dear Ms Harder

I am emailing you concerning the fencing at Greenbank Park.  I know that a small child crawled under the fence and was nearly hit by oncoming traffic, during the week of July 17th .  If it were not for a quick thinking young man, who slid his car sideways (blocking oncoming traffic) and then was able to grab the child on the median, before the little one crossed into traffic coming in the opposite direction.  My in laws live on Knollsbrook Dr and have said that this fence has been damaged for years!!  Every week there is garbage pick up in the park by city employees and after this incident I know of at least one person emailing you with concern.  This other emailer has gotten no response from you.  I find it sad that when you lived in the area close to Greenbank Park, any concerns by residents was taken care of but now that you live elsewhere in Barrhaven this safety concern continues to go unaddressed.  Perhaps after the city employees are done cleaning up any garbage outside your office window they could proceed to the park and repair the fence.  I know full well that if your grandchildren were playing at the park something would have been done by now.  There probably would have been a new park resurrected too, considering that Greenbank Park still has a pressure treated wooden structure.  Maybe upon acknowledging this incident you could award the young man who basically saved that child's life, and have a photo op with them or you could have your photo in the paper when the fence is fixed or when the new structure is built.  I do know you enjoy that part of your job:)

Thank You for your time
Robyn Smith

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From: Valpy, Carol <Carol.Valpy@ottawa.ca>
Date: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 2:01 PM
To: Robyn Smith <bretondaphne@gmail.com>
Cc: "CR - Blackberry - Harder, Jan" <Jan.Harder@rogers.blackberry.net>, "Cheesman, Tom" <Tom.Cheesman@ottawa.ca>

Good afternoon Robyn;  if this happened on July 17th, why is this the first time we are hearing about it?  I had an e-mail from one resident asking if it would be possible to put a locked gate on the Greenbank side. If this is the same resident that you speak of, then the answer was given.  If not, then perhaps that person could resend their e-mail.  No, they don’t gate parks, especially as this is a walk-through for many residents.  It is up to the parents/care-givers to watch their children.  If the fence is in need of repairs I can certainly take care of that.  The garbage is picked up regularily and the grass cut as well.  I don’t appreciate nor do I understand your comment about where Jan lives and if she still lived in the area things would be done.  Her ward is much larger than that one area and all concerns are treated equally – regardless of where she lives.  Greenbank park is on a life-cycle program as are all the parks in the City and are checked on a regular basis for safety issues.  If you know of any with the playstructure, please let us know.  I will have our Parks Department fix the fence and have a thorough look through the park for any other issues that there may be. Carol Valpy,Constituency Manager,Ward 3 - BarrhavenCouncillor Jan Harder613-580-2424 ext. 30320   From: Robyn Smith [mailto:bretondaphne@gmail.com]
Sent: August 18, 2011 1:41 PM
To: Valpy, Carol
Subject: Fence @ Greenbank Park

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From: Robyn Smith <bretondaphne@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 7:11 AM

Good Morning Carol

Thank you for a quick reply to my email.  I was not speaking of gating a public park.  There is part of the fence that is lifted, when standing in the park, on the left side.  It is at the corner where the chain link meets the wooden fence of a resident.  Yesterday some zip ties were placed to secure the fence.  So thank you for that.  We will see how long that lasts.  I will have the person who emailed you after the incident in July to re-send their email.  And as for the comment about how quickly things were done when Ms Harder lived in the Greenbank Park area, I am only quoting the residents who live in that area and who took their votes elsewhere last election.
Again thank you for taking care of the fence.
Robyn

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From: Valpy, Carol <Carol.Valpy@ottawa.ca>
Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 8:33 AM

As it turns out Robyn, approx 300 feet of fencing had been on order and you may very well see them installing it today. Carol From: Robyn Smith [mailto:bretondaphne@gmail.com]
Sent: August 19, 2011 7:11 AM

Thanx Carol I am aware that they are there doing something to the fence.
Robyn