PARK ABUSE BURNING ISSUE FOR CONCERNED NEIGHBOUR

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Susan Chute believes in the good neighbour policy — especially during these pandemic times.

She owns a B&B on Phillip Street.

And she and her nearby friends stay in touch on the internet with a Faecbook group called the Phillip Street Peeps.

It’s an informal way to share tips, tidbits and gossip across the fence while still social distancing.

They live off the southeast end of Gull Lake Rotary Park.

“It’s a beautiful park,” says Chute who moved into her bed and breakfast a few years ago and loves it.

But she’s disappointed in the state of her neighbour’s yard, which she walks every day that there’s not snow.

She and her dog Tuck prefer pine needles on the ground.

This summer, she says, has been particularly bad for disabuse by the public she shares the popular summer destination with.

A lot of garbage strewn about and unkemptness overall, others have noticed, too.

Vandalism is another problem say users who have seen burnt and overturned picnic tables and graffiti on playground equipment and the Rotary gazebo.

“The rules are there for everyone. The rules need to be enforced,” says Chute.

She says it began late last summer “when more families from out of town began to hold large picnics in the park.”

Not an illegal or unknown occurrence for decades and decades — and a nice way to enjoy the outdoors with gatherings and social distancing restrictions this year.

But to her “this was concerning, as they were cooking food on open flame charcoal barbecues” — which is prohibited in the park.

She said during a summer Sunday afternoon last year a fire was started with lighter fluid in the stone Friendship Circle, which she believes “flared to approximately four feet.”

“Quite frightening as the park was very dry,” and to her was “very close to the houses on Phillip Street east.

“Not to mention the beautiful old trees and a number of people in the park.”

She said she called Gravenhurst’s bylaw department, but got the answering machine.

Then she called the fire deptartment and was told to call back to bylaw.

Police would not respond either, she said.

So, in desperation, she called her town councillor, Penny Varney, who agreed to go take a look.

Chute said the people did not seem to understand the issue, but did put out the fire.

They commented that there were no signs banning fires.

Only one small sign at the Fourth Street entrance, which she said day-trippers don’t use and wouldn’t have seen.

“I believe it was brought up at council that more signs were needed in the park,” she told MuskokaTODAY.com.

Fast forward to this spring when the park was closed under pandemic conditions and COVID signs did appear, but she said they weren’t specific enough.

“These were not park rules.

“I called bylaw to ask how the new signs were coming along and was told they were waiting for approval.

Then she said many day trippers began “flooding the park” when it re-opened, especially on weekends, with “no physical distance and in very large groups.”

Again, she said dozens of families encamped with charcoal barbecues.

“Many of which were placed on wooden picnic tables (pulled together) or right on the very dry pine needles of the forest floor.”

She added that dogs were running off leash, “which has been an ongoing problem for years,” along with “goose poop, dog poop and garbage everywhere.”

Even, she says “people using trees as toilets and leaving paper everywhere even though port-potties had been brought in.”

Then bonfires on the beach and in the park began to appear.

And several people reported people were living in the park and even pitching tents.

The park is closed at 11 p.m. — but is still easily accessible.

By then police and bylaw were aware of what was going on and began to patrol beneath the pine canopy more often.

Bylaw officers there specifically to remind people about social distancing.

“Let’s not forget that this is not just a park, but an urban forest that is very important to the town of Gravenhurst and its residents,” said Chute.

“It is also home to many birds and wildlife.

“My home backs onto the park and I must say it was beginning to feel very unsafe.

“I started to take pictures that I shared with neighbours.

Councillor Sandy Cairns, who is also a neighbour of Chute’s, and Penny Varney got the mayor and bylaw involved and “all of a sudden late this summer we had signs with park rules.”

Signs that said no open flame fires, only propane.

“We even got poop bag dispensers and bylaw were patrolling when possible on weekends. But their working shifts don’t allow them to patrol during supper hours, which is when the barbecues are burning.”

She said she’s seen police walk through when possible.

Since the cooler weather the day-trippers have pretty much stopped, so the park is quiet again.

“Except the off leash dogs which goes on year round.”

Chute said “I think the signs will help, but folks need to be reminded.

“Much attention has been brought to this now and some action has taken place, however, it needs to be headlined again next spring.”

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