The new children’s playground set at Queens Park is about three or four times larger than the old set with a sponge rubber floor matting to help against injury

The set is second to none in quality, however council’s consideration was also about “one second or none” when it allowed it to be placed closer to the seating area at the Kiwanis pavilion and bandshell.

It is very aggravating for hundreds of adults to enjoy themselves and try to listen to whatever venue may be providing entertainment with dozens of screaming and screeching children enjoying themselves immediately adjacent to the seating area.

Children are climbing to the rooftop and jumping down onto the sponge rubber floor matting gleefully venting their excitement. It is difficult on Wednesday evenings when the Stratford Concert Band is providing music and almost impossible to understand any announcements.

Certainly, the August 1 concert with Mike Kelly doing solo vocal numbers was more difficult situation to hear and that is most unfortunate. Many artists/musicians provide entertainment here from as far away as Toronto during the summer months and it is an insult to them to have to perform under these conditions. I know of no other municipality that provides such a negative impact due to such a blatant planning error.

Over the past several years with the much smaller playground set in the same location many complaints were made to parks board staff and to some members of council. Why council would situate a much larger playground in the same area is very short-sighted. It would have been much more enjoyable for the audience if the new playground had been placed where the swings are and have the swings put where the new playground now is. One and two year olds generally do not scream and screech when getting a swing ride.

Councillor Don Chapman is a member of the parks board sub committee and was questioned by several people why it was not placed elsewhere as he is well aware of the serious problem – he and his wife are regular Wednesday evening attendees. He stated that it was a contract, insinuating it had to be placed where the old one had been.

I thought contracts were provided to make changes in equipment or site location were procedure. Mr. Chapman should have raised strong objections as he was well aware of the problem and was in position to voice his concern and not to do so was a grave error in judgement.

The placement of the playground in its present location was a stupid move by council and I ask every member of council and the parks board to come on a Sunday or Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. and prove me wrong.

Ex mayor/councillor Dave Hunt indicates in his retirement rhetoric that council this term did not have a “maverick” as a member of council. It seems to me that this council should have had a couple of “mavericks” as a lot of of items got fast tracked, rubber stamped without any discussion or consideration, thereby approved as in this case, when even common sense failed.

Lloyd Lichti
Stratford