English Francais
Save The Park!
Sauvons Le Parc!
Letter Sent To Members of Canadian Parliament September 2008
Dear Member of The Canadian Parliament:
At this time I want to send you material already sent this summer to members of the Canadian Senate. My name is Patrick Barnard and I am a park advocate from Westmount, Quebec and a member of Save The Park! Sauvons le parc!, a member group of the National Association for Olmsted Parks in Washington, D.C. (see Naop.org).
I am writing to you because Save The Park! (savewestmountpark.com) has done a great deal of research about synthetic turf in the course of arguing against its installation in Montreal's historic Westmount Park (see "Save Your Park" on YouTube). We are also in continuous contact with the Swedish Chemicals Agency. The time has come, we believe, for the Canadian Parliament to examine the synthetic turf issue.
We have produced two videos with prominent figures in the U.S. "Turf War" which was so described by Sharyn Alfonsi on ABC national television news this past spring("Dangers of Artificial Turf," Alfonsi, YouTube).
These videos are "Bill Crain Speaks -- About Synthetic Turf" and "Guive Mirfendereski Speaks About Synthetic Turf," both on YouTube. Prof. Bill Crain works at the City University of New York and he and Rutgers' Dr. Junfeng Zhang have just finished a study of the contents of "third generation" turf which is now available in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology -- "Hazardous chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in digestive fluids"(On-line at Journal of Exposure Science under Advanced Publications for Aug. 27, 2008).
Guive Mirfendereski of Newton, Mass. runs North America's premium site with information about this issue -- www.synturf.org
These Crain and Mirfendereski conversations are the videos I am sending you shortly, since they have already been sent to members of the Senate.
I have sent these videos to Clarence House in London which has been following the Westmount Park story
for two years and which has received its own copy of our book "Turf Issue Resources." We asked Clarence House not to intervene in our local issue -- but we have kept them informed, as well as the swedish government, Mayor Bloomberg of New York, and the mayors of the major cities in Canada.
I have also sent these two videos to the Toronto Football Club in the MLS because the TFC is considering shifting from synthetic turf to natural grass. And they have also been sent to the MSL Players' Union and to commissioner Garber, as well as to the NFL in the U.S.
In the Guive Mirfendereski video you will see the thermal images produced by Montreal geographer Camilo Perez Arrau (see -- urbanheatislands.com). These satellite pictures demonstrate the "heat island effect" over synthetic fields. And, Crain and Zhang's findings, along with those of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, point to a very grave concern -- that is volatility of undesirable molecules+heat=possible outgassing. These issues must be a concern, I believe, to parliamentarians.
In Montreal, the City's Health Department has produced a document "Gazons synthétiques utilisés pour les sports extérieurs à la ville de Montréal" which concludes that risks to players using synthetic turf surfaces are "not significant."
However, it is important to note a disturbing fact...The Montreal official spokesperson on the synthetic turf issue-- Luc Gionet -- told the CBC's Gerri Barrer "to make sure that we were OK, that our conclusion was all right, we ask doctors' opinion." But the authors of the Montreal study are not doctors. They hold M.Sc. degrees, not doctorates, and they are not physicians -- and their literature review omits the all-important study done by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, which was cited by ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi, but somehow missed by Montreal.
Meanwhile, the U.S. federal government's Consumer Product Safety Commission, mentioned by Mirfendereski, has just issued a staff report giving synthetic fields the green light -- but almost immediately the attorney general of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, attacked that CPSC report as relying on "a grossly inadequate and badly flawed study" and said that the report was "deceptive" and a danger since politicians and parents "will rely on this unconscionably deficient report" that "is replete with unsound scientific methodology and conclusions, and unreliable findings."..The turf war continues...and it is time for the Canadian Parliament to look into this issue.
Here is Richard Blumenthal's cautionary note from his Aug. 19, 2008 Press Release:
"The CPSC review of artificial turf safety focused entirely on the issue of lead contamination from artificial blades of grass. While this one issue is important, it is neither the sole nor the most significant issue. There is no indication that CPSC staff considered the transferability or emission -- especially at high temperatures -- of toxic chemicals from the crumb rubber used at the base of artificial turf. This crumb rubber is usually made from recycled tires, containing chemicals -- including benthothiazole, butyplated hydroxyanisole and phthalates -- that may be toxic or carcinogenic under some circumstances."
All the best,
Patrick Barnard
Westmount. Quebec
Save The Park! Sauvons le parc!
Member -- Naop
News: Local and International -- April 2008
News That’s Local, News That’s Global…(le texte français suivra)
Dear Friends of Westmount Park:
Happy spring! Our last bulletin, at the end of 2007, thanked you all for your part in ensuring that Westmount City Council rejected synthetic turf and will refurbish the southern fields of Westmount Park with grass.
LOCAL
Here at the local level, citizens want to make sure Westmount sticks to the all-grass park plan approved by the Advisory Work Group at the end of 2007.
The need to scrutinize the current Council in Westmount is even greater because on Sat. April 12, 2008, there will be a public consultation, from 12:00 to 17:00, at Victoria Hall to discuss what seems to be a mega-project plan for the Arena right next to the southwest corner of Westmount Park. This council’s history with the synthetic turf issue already has Westmount residents worried about future impact on the park neighbourhood
This past Monday, March 31, 2008, Westmount City Council met at City Hall and during question period Patrick Barnard read a statement by Mavis Young of Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! Young’s short declaration pointed out that Westmount’s current plans for greenspace utilization envisage closing the senior, north field – Westmount’s best – to organized sport outside the 6-week period for children’s soccer. So, says Young, with the proposed fencing of 60% of the southern field, “we will end up with less space, not more for both sports and recreational users.” The current City administration’s lack of clear thinking became even more evident when Director General Bruce St. Louis indicated that Westmount was far behind schedule on work to be done on the park. Also, final plans for landscaping will not be posted on the City’s web-site. Save The Park! members left this meeting more determined than ever to press for information from an administration and a council which have never been straightforward about the park. And if we see signs that, once again, park plans are going forward without due competence or democracy, we will let you know immediately and seek your support for corrective action.
INTERNATIONAL
Meanwhile, a significant trend is emerging in the Northeast region of North America. In the state legislatures of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey there are legislative initiatives that seek immediate testing of synthetic turf and moratoriums on the future installation of such fields. Also, three members of the City Council of New York City have brought forward the same demand to stop and to test in NYC. And in the United States, Westmount is being cited as a model of citizen action because of the way we have said “No!” to synthetic turf.
If you are interested in seeing the international impact of your support here, go to the widely-read Newton, Massachusetts web-site www.SynTurf.org and there you will find “The Westmount Brief: A Case Study in Effective Advocacy” ( March 28, 2008) SynTurf is actively spreading the word about what it calls “a major victory” in Westmount “against the plan to install an artificial turf field.”
SynTurf’s feature article stresses the thermal images shown at the May 16, 2007 Public Consultation. Those are the satellite photos comparing the blue coolness of Westmount’s grass fields with the red heat of Montreal’s synthetic surfaces – images collated and presented in May by the UQAM geographer, Camilo Perez Arrau.
“For the first time in any public debate over turf,” says SynTurf about the Arrau pictures , “ words about turf’s heat effect were complemented by a showing of thermal images of super-heated fields.” If you wish to see these thermal images, and cannot access them at www.SynTurf.org, then simply REPLY to this e-mail indicating interest, and the photos will be sent to you.
Here in Westmount, Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! intends to make sure that Westmount City Council adheres to the plan “as developed and agreed upon last fall,” in the words of Director General, Bruce St. Louis. We will be watching for any negative gaps between the Advisory Work Group approved plan for grass and the final layout determined by the City Administration. Thanks again…and stay tuned!
17/12/07:C'est officiel! Vous avez sauvé le parc!
Chers amis du Parc Westmount,
Une fois encore, la pression que vous avez exercée a abouti à d’importants changements, et vos efforts ont sauvé un parc.
Le lundi 17 décembre 2007, la Mairesse Karin Marks a formellement annoncé qu’aucun gazon artificiel ne sera posé dans le Parc Westmount. Le nouveau plan “définitif” préservera presque la moitié du terrain sud en tant qu’aire de jeu libre, sauvegardera la plupart des arbres environnants et garantira que le terrain nord, le long de Melville, restera partiellement disponible pour le soccer. Le Conseil a approuvé un budget de 800 000 $ pour “la réfection des terrains de jeux du Parc Westmount”. Ce qui fut une promesse est devenu realité.
Toutes ces réalisations sont l’aboutissement de vos efforts. Si nous avons réussi à conserver et à protéger ces éléments essentiels du parc, c’est bien parce que les citoyens ont fait valoir leurs revendications en signant la pétition de Sauvons le Parc! et en rejetant l’option synthétique le 16 mai 2007. Les fonctionnaires municipaux ont cédé à la volonté de la population. C’est véritablement vous qui avez rendu cela possible.
La première étape de la lutte pour le parc s’est soldée par le rejet du gazon artificiel lors de la rencontre publique en mai. La deuxième étape a commencé lorsque la Ville a proposé de clôturer de grandes sections de gazon naturel et de réserver une minableoute petite zone à l’intention des élèves de l’école Westmount Parc et du public. Nous avons riposté par une annonce protestant contre une telle clôture, et vous avez informé la Ville de votre opposition par courriel et par téléphone.
Finalement, suite à une pression soutenue de la part de Sauvons le parc!, la Ville a mis sur pied le Groupe de travail consultatif. Les résultats de ses travaux dépassent nettement ce que la Ville avait proposé peu de temps auparavant. En effet, l’école Westmount Park, le CPE Narnia et la population générale se voient accordés près de la moitié du terrain sud en tant qu’aire de jeu libre. De plus, les revendications des citoyens ont permis de préserver la petite glissade ainsi que la plupart des arbres, et l’administration municipale se voit obligée de garder le terrain principal (longeant Melville) ouvert au soccer du 1er mai au 24 juin. Nous croyons toujours que la Ville devrait garder ce terrain (qui est le meilleur terrain) ouvert au soccer pendant toute la saison, faute de quoi le terrain sud risque d’être trop sollicité, vouant à l’échec le plan dont la Vi! lle vien t de se doter.
Malheureusement, une clôture haute de quatre pieds entourera le nouveau terrain de soccer en gazon naturel, situé dans la section sud-ouest du parc, à côté des courts de tennis. Cependant, l’école et le CPE sont disposés à accepter cette contrainte. Nous pensons que cette concession était nécessaire dans l’immédiat, afin de préserver la verdure naturelle de ce magnifique parc pour au moins encore une génération.
Encore une fois, merci à tous. Joyeuses fêtes et meilleurs voeux pour 2008!
Sauvons le parc! Save The Park!December 19, 2007 -- You did it! STP Announces Official news: Park Stays Green!
Dear Friends of Westmount Park:
(La version française suivra sous peu.)Once again your public pressure has brought about major change, and your efforts have saved a park.
On Mon. Dec. 17, 2007, Westmount Mayor Karin Marks formally indicated that there will be no artificial turf in Westmount Park and that the new and "final" plan will preserve nearly half the southern fields as play area, as well as most of the trees nearby. It will also provide that the upper Melville field remains open, in some measure, for soccer. Council officially approved a budget item of $800,000 for “refurbishing of lower playing fields in Westmount Park.”
What was a pledge to use natural grass is now a reality.
Your efforts made the difference. The success in conserving and protecting these essential features of the park is the direct result of pressure from citizens who signed the Save the Park petition and on May 16, 2007 rejected the synthetic option. And now city officials have yielded to the public will. You truly are the people who made this possible.
The first part of the park struggle culminated in the rejection of artificial turf at the May public meeting. The second phase began when the City proposed to fence off large areas of natural grass and leave only a paltry strip for the schoolchildren and the general public. We ran an ad protesting such fencing, and you sent e-mails and made phone calls to the City.
Then, under further pressure from Save The Park! the City created the Advisory Workgroup. The results are definite gains over what had been proposed only a few weeks before. Westmount Park School (WPS), Narnia, and the general population have retained nearly half of the southern fields as a play area. Public sentiment has preserved the miniature toboggan slope, saved most trees and compelled the administration to keep the North Field open for soccer play from May 1st until June 24th. We still believe that the City must keep the North Field – its best – fully open or risk over-use of the new southern field and the failure of the very plan they have adopted.
Unfortunately, there will be a four-foot fence around the new grass soccer field in the southwest quadrant of the park, next to the tennis courts. However, neighbourhood groups such as Narnia and WPS feel that they can live with this. We believe that this concession has been necessary, for the moment, to keep this beautiful park green for at least another generation.
Again, thank you all. Have a great holiday and a wonderful 2008!
Save The Park! Sauvons le parc!(La version française suivra sous peu.)Bulletin -- How Friends of Westmount Park Changed The Mayor's Mind
Dear Friends of Westmount Park:
Once again your pressure has helped preserve the integrity of Westmount Park...and yet your vigilance is still required. On Oct. 22nd, Mayor Marks and Council, in response to citizen protest, reversed themselves on two key issues:
1. After ruling out any further park consultation in September 2007, the Mayor suddenly announced the formation of an Advisory Group to give the City advice on the park. Members will come from City wards and concerned organizations.
2. After previously indicating that Council was ready to act immediately on the City's September 2007 proposal mandating fencing, Mayor Marks appeared to distance Council from the fencing idea. "We have not decided," she said. "To us this is still a process."
An announcement in the Westmount Examiner and on the city's web-site has indicated who will have a seat on the new Advisory Group. In addition to citizen members selected from each of the 8 voter Districts, one seat each will be allotted to: the Westmount Municipal Association (WMA), the Healthy City Project, Westmount Park School, and Narnia Daycare. While the inclusion of the community and school groups is very good and logical, the failure to include Save The Park is inexplicable.
The truth is that no group of citizens has been more active than Save The Park, or more involved in the park issue. Save The Park has brought the fate of the park to public attention and insisted on the public consultation of last May, and it now appears that the City is attempting to discount the voices of the 762 concerned Westmount residents who have signed our petition. Save The Park has formally protested this exclusion in an open letter to all Council members. So far no reply has been received. Moreover, Westmount's web-site indicates that the committee must complete its task by the end of November. Since the cut-off date for selection of the Advisory Group is November 19th, that will only allow an unbelievable 11! days fo r completion of the process!
The sheer unreality of this timeline gives the appearance that the role of the Advisory Group will be merely cosmetic. We truly hope this will not be so.
Meanwhile, Council has been unable to find members to sit on the Advisory Group from District 1 (Councillor Martin), District 5 (Councillor Bowser), and District 8 (Councillor de Castell). If you live in Westmount and are in these Districts, please consider submitting your name to sit on the Advisory Group in order to make it a real, and not a cosmetic exercise. The deadline for submitting names is 4:30 P.M., Nov, 19, 2007. To submit your name, you should e-mail Councillor Nicole Forbes at assistance@westmount.org ...The Telephone Number is: 514-989-5443. And the Fax Number is: 514-989-5481
Save The Park! Sauvons le parc!
Chers amis du Parc Westmount,
Grâce certainement à la pression que votre appui soutenu nous a permis d'exercer sur la Ville de Westmount, la Mairesse et le Conseil municipal se sont ravisés au sujet de la consultation publique. Le 22 Octobre dernier, ils ont annoncé la création d'un Groupe consultatif sur les terrains de jeux du parc Westmount qui soumettra des recommendations au Conseil. Un(e) citoyen(ne) de chaque district électoral de Westmount siégera sur ce groupe de travail, ainsi que quatre personnes représentant l'École Westmount Park, le CPE Narnia, et deux organismes communautaires.
Il semble que l'intention de la Ville est d'exclure de cette consultation l'organisme le plus engagé et le mieux renseigné quant aux enjeux dont il est question, c'est-à-dire Sauvons le parc! Vous êtes 762 de Westmount à recevoir ce courriel et à appuyer notre démarche, mais, selon la Ville, vous ne méritez pas nécessairement d'être représentés. Les tentatives d'un de nos membres (Mavis Young, connue e! t respec tée pour son expertise) de participer au Groupe consultatif ont échoué jusqu'à présent. Il y a lieu de se demander si le Groupe aura pour seul rôle d'approuver les décisions déjà prises par la Ville. Cependant, aux dires de la Mairesse, le projet de clôturer une grande partie des terrains de jeux est loin d'être chose faite.
Entre temps, le Conseil est toujours à la recherche de résidants des districts nos 1 (le conseiller Martin), 5 (le conseiller Bowser), et 8 (le conseiller de Castell). Si vous êtes résidant(e) d'un de ces trois districts, songez SVP à soumettre votre nom afin de participer au Groupe consultatif et de donner une voix aux nombreux citoyens qui s'opposent au projet de la Ville. Les personnes intéréssées doivent s'inscrire au plus tard le lundi 19 novembre à 16h30. Vous pouvez soumettre votre nom et vos coordonnées à la conseillère Nicole Forbes par courriel à: assistance @westmount.org au 514-989-5443, ou par télécopieur au 514-989-5481.
Ensemble, Sauvons le parc!
Bulletin #9
Dear Friends of Westmount ParK
In today's Westmount Examiner (10/18/07), Save The Park! has run an ad on P. 19 just below the Bulletin Board section.The ad says: "Don't Fence Us Out!" If you do not get The Examiner, you can see the ad for yourself by going to the LINKS box of our web-site at savewestmountpark.com The image shows children in silhouette, peering through iron bars at Westmount Park -- an icon representing our analysis of the latest park proposal from the City (that document is also available in our LINKS box).
Our newspaper announcement asks Westmounters to contact their City Councillors and tell those officials "to preserve this open space loved by all." If you live in Westmount, please telephone or write your local Councillor and tell her or him what you think.
And... All 1042 of you who have signed our petition, Westmounters or not, please vote in our ongoing poll by REPLYING TO THIS E-MAIL and simply indicating your reaction to Westmount's latest park proposal..."A" for Acceptable..."B" for Not Acceptable...and "C" for Totally Appalling.
We need these reponses because they really help. So far, in our poll, 87% of respondents are against the City's plans, and citizen response is couched in very strong language. Westmount refuses to consult, so we are asking you to consult with us. Just click your REPLY button and write in "A" or "B" or "C."
Chers amis du Parc Westmount:
Dans le Westmount Examiner d'aujourdhui, jeudi 18 octobre, Sauvons le parc a placé une annonce contre le projet de clôturer une grande partie des terrains de jeux du parc. Sous le slogan Don't Fence Us Out! un photomontage de quatre enfants en silhouette devant une clôture imposante montre l'exclusion qui en résulterait. Si vous n'avez pas reçu ce journal, vous pouvez voir l'annonce en visitant la section LINKS sure notre site (savewestm! ountpark .com) . Vous pouvez aussi y consulter le document décrivant le projet de la ville.
Notre annonce invite les citoyens de Westmount à contacter leurs conseillers municipaux pour leur demander de préserver cet espace ouvert aimé de tous. En même temps, nous vous prions, que vous soyez ou non résident (e) de Westmount de PARTICIPER À NOTRE SONDAGE EN RÉPONDANT À CE COURRIEL. Veuillez simplement nous indiquer si ce dernier projet de la ville est A -- ACCEPTABLE B-- INACCEPTABLE C -- ÉPOUVANTABLE.
Nous comptons sur vous. Jusqu'à présent, 87% de ceux et celles qui se sont prononcés s'opposent au projet, mais nous voulons que tout le monde s'exprime. Puisque Westmount a refusé toute consultation publique, c'est à nous et à vous de combler ce vide. Une réponse de votre part, un simple A ou B, ou C, serait énormément appréciée.
Bulletin #8...Bulletin No. 8
Bulletin #8...Our News and Your Views Dear Friends of Westmount Park:We have news, both good and bad. The good news is that Westmount Mayor Karin Marks has made a definite, public commitment to keep natural grass in Westmount Park. The bad news is that the Mayor and Westmount City Council have unveiled a tentative, but unsettling plan for Westmount Park: “Westmount’s Playing Fields: Developing An All ‘Natural Turf' Strategy“ (see guide to document access below). Change is envisaged for the southern fields, running East/West below the bicycle path, and for the main North/South field above. This proposal will radically reconfigure the park for three reasons: Save the Park!
Council intends to vote on this ominous plan on October 22 and Mayor Marks has categorically ruled out any further public consultation on the park. So, it is time for all of us to speak out now. Westmount citizens and friends of Westmount Park everywhere should consult the document in question by going to www.westmount.org [Once at the City web-site, look for “Hotlines” on the left of your screen and click on the arrow next to Westmount Park Playing Fields Project. Then, within the text that appears, you are told where to click to access the document. Important: be sure to click on the word Report and not on the Adobe icon to the left of that word.] What do you think? We would like you to indicate your thoughts to us by simply replying to this bulletin with a response to the statement below. And please feel free to send your reflections as well, if you so wish. Please indicate whether you find the document “Westmount’s Playing Fields: Developing an All ‘Natural Turf’ Strategy” A. Acceptable B. Unacceptable C. Totally Appalling Thank you…
Bulletin#7...Thanks To You All...A Guarded Optimism
Thanks To You All…
Hello to all of you who have supported the effort to preserve Westmount Park as a natural greenspace. Thanks to you there is now reason for guarded optimism about a positive outcome.
Many attended the May 16th public consultation and know first-hand about the community’s outright rejection of synthetic turf. And subsequent to the June 18th Council meeting, Mayor Marks herself made comments in the public record which indicate that she now recognizes that citizens have “overwhelmingly” turned down any synthetic option. She is quoted in The Westmount Examiner of June 21st:
“ No decision has been made. We are looking at all natural turf options. People have told us overwhelmingly that they do not want artificial turf. It is not the direction we want to go, but we are also committed to expanding the recreation programme. We want to know all that would be involved in staying with natural turf – not just what type of grass, but the layout of the fields, comparative costs, scheduling, usage and, in fact, every detail. Hopefully, they [City staff] will find a solution that works. Only then will we make a decision.” (for the Examiner front-page story, see LINKS at savewestmountpark.com).
A clear evolution has occurred. In October 2006 we faced a future of synthetic turf. Citizen pressure subsequently secured the public meeting of May 2007 which produced a definitive popular verdict. Then the petition with your signatures was submitted to council along with a joint declaration in favor of natural grass signed by the Council of Westmount Park School, CPE Narnia, and Save The Park! The Environmental Committee of the Healthy Cities Project also came out against synthetic turf. All of these events received significant press coverage.
And now the Mayor has geared planning, she says, to a natural grass solution.
At the same time, her remarks stop short of a full and unequivocal decision to reject an artificial surface installation. This ambiguity is unsettling.
Examiner columnist and civic activist Don Wedge had this reaction: “Did that [the mayor’s words] mean the file is closed on the artificial turf? Of course it is, but the reluctance to say so explicitly was amazing. Councillors approached after the [June 18th] meeting were reluctant to clarify the situation. It was as though there were a blood pact of secrecy! Like the Sopranos, the lips were zipped tight. Why such secrecy?” (The Westmount Examiner, 21/06/07). (for Wedge’s Civic Alert column see the LINKS box).
The next meeting of City Council is scheduled for Monday August 27, 2007, at 8:00 PM in Westmount City Hall. Representatives of Save The Park! have attended every such meeting since last October and we will certainly be at the next one. If any of you wish to join us, we will be happy to see you there…and thanks again!
Grâce à vous tous… Salutations à tous ceux qui ont appuyé nos efforts pour préserver le Parc Westmount en tant qu’espace vert naturel. Grâce à vous, il y a lieu d’être prudemment optimiste quant à l’aboutissement de notre campagne. Vous avez été nombreux à assister à la consultation publique du 16 mai et savez donc que notre communauté a vigoureusement rejeté la proposition d’un gazon synthétique. Après la réunion du Conseil le 18 juin, la Mairesse Marks a elle-même reconnu publiquement que les citoyens avaient “très majoritairement” refusé tout revêtement synthétique. Elle est citée à cet effet dans le Westmount Examiner en date du 21 juin. “Nous n’avons pris aucune décision. Nous étudions toutes les modalités de gazon naturel. Les citoyens nous ont dit très majoritairement qu’ils ne veulent pas d’un gazon artificiel. Ce n’est pas la voie que nous privilégions, mais nous avons aussi pris l’engagement d’élargir le programme des loisirs. Nous voulons nous informer de tout ce qu’exigerait un gazon naturel – non seulement le type de gazon, mais aussi l’aménagement des terrains, les coûts relatifs, les horaires et modes d’utilisation, bref, tous les détails. Nous espérons qu’ils [les employés municipaux] trouveront une solution viable. Ce n’est qu’alors que nous prendrons une décision.” (Pour lire l’article, cliquez sur LIENS.) Les choses ont manifestement évolué depuis octobre 2006. À l’époque, la Ville semblait s’être décidée en faveur du gazon synthétique. Une vigoureuse opposition de la part des citoyens a conduit à la tenue de la consultation publique en mai, avec les résultats que nous savons. Ensuite, la pétition que vous avez signée fut présenté au Conseil municipal, accompagnée d’une déclaration conjointe en faveur du gazon naturel de la part du Conseil d’administration de l’Ecole Westmount Park, du CPE Narnia, et de Sauvons le parc! Le Comité de l’environnement du Projet Villes-santé s’est également prononcé contre le gazon synthétique. Tous ces évènements ont bénéficié d’une bonne attention médiatique. La Mairesse Marks déclare maintenant que la solution retenue pour les terrains de jeu sera basée sur un gazon naturel. Cela dit, elle n’a pas voulu s’engager pleinement à rejeter toute installation de gazon synthétique. Cette ambiguité est inquiétante. Voici ce qu’en a écrit Don Wedge, chroniqueur du Examiner et activiste civique: “Peut-on en conclure que le gazon artificiel a bel et bien été rejeté? Bien sûr, mais la réticence à le dire explicitement était étonnante. Les Conseillers contactés à la fin de la réunion [du 18 juin] n’ont pas voulu préciser la situation. On aurait cru à une omerta! Leurs lèvres étaient scellées à la manière des Soprano. Pourquoi ces cachotteries?” (The Westmount Examiner, 21/06/07, cliquez sur LIENS). La prochaine réunion du Conseil municipal se tiendra le lundi 27 août à 20 heures à la mairie de Westmount. Les représentants de Sauvons le parc! assistent à toutes les réunions du Conseil depuis octobre dernier, et nous serons certainement présents ce soir-là. Si vous désirez vous joindre à nous, nous serons ravis de vous y voir. Entretemps, merci encore de tout votre appui!
Bulletin #6
May 16, 2007 -- Public Consultation: Overwhelming Rejection of Artificial Turf…Westmounters Say -- Keep The Park Green
(Nous avons jugé important que vous ayez cette information au plus vite; une version française suivera sous peu.) Last Wednesday evening, 300 people packed Victoria Hall, with 30 more in the balcony. Attending were the Mayor, Council, the President of FieldTurf, the Green candidate in the last election, the head of Montreal’s Urban Ecology Institute, and many others. After the presentation by Director General Bruce St. Louis and 3 consultants, the briefs began, with 14 presenters criticizing the City’s plans and 4 in favour. The presenters were concise, articulate, extremely well-informed, and many of them had scientific training. Perhaps one among them seemed to symbolize the sheer excellence of the park’s defenders – Gillian O’Driscoll, distinguished Professor of Psychology at McGill, scientist, and mother of children at Narnia daycare. She and her fellow park defenders produced an extraordinary portrait for the audience – the spectre of synthetic fields formed from 30,000 recycled tires each, tires so toxic that in the words of the City’s landscape architect, Marc Fauteux, “it is practically impossible to determine the disposal cost of this artificial surface.” Kathie Collin, a Yale doctoral candidate, pointed out that this last phrase of warning appeared in a French-only footnote at the bottom of P. 8 of Fauteux and Associates’ “Westmount Park Soccer Fields: Design Options and Cost Estimates.” Speaker after speaker pointed out contradictions in official information. Perhaps the greatest surprise in the evening came when Westmounter Camilo Perez Arrau, a geographer at UQAM, projected his infra-red, satellite images from the summer of 2005. At that time – before there was any mention of changing the southern fields – Arrau had used Westmount Park as his standard against which to highlight the extremely hot surfaces of Montreal’s synthetic fields. He showed the audience that from high above, Westmount Park’s fields show a clear, cool blue…. But Montreal’s synthetic surfaces, such as McGill’s Forbes Field, and Concordia’s Loyola field glow with a deep, hot red. Mayor Marks, after she saw the images, was heard to say:” I was glued to my chair.” [Mayor Marks has denied making this remark; but, when asked to clarify what she actually did say, she did not contact Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! to indicate what her reaction had been.] The President of FieldTurf, Westmounter Jean Prevost, commented that he had never seen these pictures before and that his company was working on the problem which he acknowledged, reminding listeners that many municipalities play at night to avoid this heat effect. He even added: “This [his own product] is not for everyone.” The audience agreed. The major points of May 16th are:- The overwhelming rejection of artificial turf.
- The defense of the park as a natural greenspace.
- The support for unfettered access for all the users – soccer children, daycare toddlers, students of Westmount Park School, and the 20,000 residents of Westmount to whom the park belongs.
Consultation publique du 16 mai 2007: Refus massif du gazon synthétique; les résidents de Westmount réclament un parc vert!
La salle était comble le soir du 16 mars, lorsque plus de 300 personnes se sont rassemblées à Victoria Hall. Dans l’auditoire se trouvaient notamment la Mairesse, les Conseillers municipaux, le Président de FieldTurf, le candidat du Parti Vert aux récentes élections et le directeur du Centre d’écologie urbaine de Montréal. Les discours de Bruce Saint-Louis, directeur-général, et des 3 consultants ont été suivis par les mémoires des intervenants inscrits, dont 14 ont critiqué le plan de la Ville alors que 4 se sont prononcés en faveur. Tous les intervenants étaient concis, clairs et très bien renseignés, et bon nombre avaient une formation scientifique. Gillian O’Driscoll, professeur de psychologie à McGill et mère de jeunes enfants inscrits au CPE Narnia, a été particulièrement convaincante et éloquente dans sa défense du parc. Elle et ses co-défenseurs ont brossé un tableau effrayant de ce que le parc pourrait devenir, avec des terrains synthétiques fabriqués à partir de 30 000 pneus chacun, un matériau si toxique que, au dire de Marc Fauteux, le paysagiste retenu par la Ville, “il est pratiquement impossible de déterminer le coût d’élimination de la surface artificielle”. Kathie Collin, candidate au doctorat à l’université Yale, a signalé que cet avertissement était dissimulé dans une note en bas de la page 8 de la version française du rapport de Fauteux et Associés intitulé “Les terrains de soccer du Parc Westmount: Options d’aménagement et estimation des coûts”. De nombreux intervenants ont relevé des contradictions dans les renseignements officiels. La communication la plus étonnante de la soirée a été celle de Camilo Perez Arrau du département de géographie de l’UQAM, un résident de Westmount, qui a projeté des images satellitaires infrarouges prises à l’été 2005. A cette époque, avant que la Ville n’ait formulé son projet de remplacement des terrains de la section sud du parc, M. Arrau avait choisi le Parc Westmount comme référence pour son analyse comparative de la forte chaleur dégagée par les gazons synthétiques. Sur ces images, les terrains du Parc Westmount apparaissent en bleu, couleur qui dénote une faible température, alors que les surfaces synthétiques telles que le terrain Forbes Field de McGill et le terrain du campus Loyola de Concordia apparaissent en rouge intense, indiquant leur forte chaleur. Selon certains, la Mairesse Marks aurait réagi à ces images en déclarant avoir été “clouée à [son] siège”. [Mme Marks affirme ne pas avoir prononcé ces paroles, sans préciser ce qu’elle aurait vraiment dit.] Jean Prévost, Président de FieldTurf et résident de Westmount, a déclaré n’avoir jamais encore vu de telles images; il a ajouté qu’il était au courant du problème et que son entreprise y cherchait des remèdes, et a rappelé aux résidents que beaucoup de municipalités choisissent de protéger les joueurs de la chaleur en les faisant jouer la nuit. Il a renchéri, en parlant de son propre produit, qu’ “il ne convient pas à tous le monde”. L’assistance lui a donné raison. Voici les constats essentiels du 16 mai:1. Rejet massif du gazon synthétique.2. Les défenseurs du parc veulent qu’il reste vert.3. Les terrains doivent être librement accessibles à tous les usagers – jeunes joueurs de soccer, enfants de garderie, élèves de l’école Westmount Park School ainsi que les 20 000 résidents de Westmount à qui appartient le parc. Vers la fin de la rencontre, le Docteur Henry Olders, président de l’Association municipale de Westmount, a insisté sur la nécessité de plus de rigueur et de transparence dans l’analyse et la prise de décision. Il a également offert des solutions de rechange, surtout pour les joueurs de soccer. Jon Breslaw, économiste, a lui aussi proposé une solution, à savoir la création d’une véritable aire sportive sur les terrains vagues au sud de l’ancienne gare de Westmount. Cet évènement est sans précédent, car c’est la première fois qu’une municipalité canadienne examine des enjeux environnementaux urbains avec autant de profondeur et sous le regard si averti de ses citoyens. Une petite page d’histoire a été écrite ce soir-là. Pourtant, la seule chaîne de télévision présente a diffusé un piètre rapport, effleurant à peine les sujets qui avaient été si intelligemment présentés. Jusqu’à présent, la presse locale donne l’impresssion que les participants étaient répartis en deux camps égaux. Quant aux images infrarouges, pourtant si frappantes, elles ne semblent pas avoir été remarquées par les médias. Il est à espérer que ces lacunes seront comblées, surtout vu que certains des employés municipaux sont partis en disant “90% contre !”. Si vous avez assisté à la réunion, ou si vous en avez eu des échos, écrivez à la Mairesse, à votre Conseiller municipal, au Westmount Examiner et au Westmount Independent. Plaignez-vous auprès de CTV si vous avez jugé leur compte-rendu inadéquat. N’oubliez pas d’afficher vos remarques sur le site web de l’Association municipale de Westmount www.wma-amw.orgBulletin #5
Bonjour! Hello! Un message au sujet du 16 mai va arriver...mais, pour le moment veuillez consulter le Westmount Examiner d'aujourdhui, le 3 mai, 2007, surtout Wedge, Barry, et les lettres...
Hello! We will be writing to you soon and in depth about the public meeting at Victoria Hall on May 16th at 7:00 PM. In the meantime, please try to read the May 3, 2007 Westmount Examiner on Line -- Wedge, Barry, and especially the letters. The Public Advocate's Office of New York approached Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! and so did Prof. Crain, who has signed our petition, not the other way around --as Martin C, Barry suggests-- but the facts are there more or less.
Wedge's comment today:
In Westmount’s case, it could well take that long to respond to the first big question: what other solutions were considered and rejected before the city decided on the idea of the artificial turf.
One of my worries concerns the apparent dismissal of the New York toxicity evidence by Westmount’s environmental consultants. Are we less likely to develop cancer than New Yorkers?
What is an acceptable risk?
Bonjour!
And tell people to sign the petition and to read this issue of The Examiner. Merci!
Bulletin #4 29/04/07
Bulletin #4
Dear Friends:
The City of Westmount has announced a public meeting on Wednesday May 16th, 7:00 PM at Victoria Hall, to discuss the synthetic turf proposal for Westmount Park. We will be sending you a detailed bulletin about the event very shortly.
This message is to tell you some other news. The Public Advocate’s Office (PAO) of the City of New York has asked Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! to contact the municipalities of Greater Montreal to participate in a testing program of the rubber pellets used in synthetic playing fields.
We will get back to you very soon…In the meantime we thought you should see the April 15th press release of the PAO warning New York citizens about the PAO’s concerns:
Chers amis,
La Ville de Westmount a annoncé la tenue d’une réunion de consultation publique le mercredi 16 mai, à 19h00, à Victoria Hall, pour discuter du projet de gazon synthétique au Parc Westmount. Nous vous enverrons un bulletin plus détaillé à ce sujet d’ici peu.
Pour l’instant, nous voulons vous aviser que le Bureau de l’Avocat publique (PAO) de la Ville de New York a demandé à Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! de contacter les municipalités dans la grande région de Montréal afin de leur demander de participer à un program d’analyse des boulettes de caoutchouc employées dans la fabrication du gazon synthétique.
Nous recommuniquerons avec vous très bientôt. Entre-temps, voici le communiqué de presse du 15 avril dans lequel le PAO fait part de ses inquiétudes aux citoyens de New York:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2007
Contact: John Collins, Press Secretary
(212) 669-4193; (91...
Release #: 013-2007
Public Advocate Gotbaum Calls for Independent Testing of Pellets Used in City Parks
-Health risks to New Yorkers playing on synthetic turf remains unknown –
MANHATTAN – Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today called for immediate, independent testing of rubber pellets that may pose serious health risks to New Yorkers. The rubber pellets, used to fill in synthetic turf in more than 70 athletic fields throughout the City, are made from recycled tires that contain high levels of cancer-causing chemicals. The health risks to families and kids playing on the turf remain unknown.
Public Advocate Gotbaum was joined by CUNY Professor William Crain and representatives from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest to call on the Parks Department to allow an independent study of the health impacts of the pellets before the City expands their use to additional fields.
Public Advocate Gotbaum said, “Families and children play in City parks every day – and they shouldn’t be placed in danger. We know these pellets contain toxic agents, but we don’t know if these hazardous agents will hurt families or children. That’s why the City should allow an exhaustive, independent study to help us identify possible health risks and protect New Yorkers.”
In 2006, researchers at Rutgers University studied the pellets and found levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at levels well above those set for soil by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. However, the study did not determine if the chemicals are absorbed into the body. The Parks Department has denied requests for further tests.
Professor William Crain said, “It is an important public health issue that we learn how these chemicals in synthetic turf might affect children or athletes. The Parks Department should be encouraging our research, not putting obstacles in our way.”
The Parks Department uses the rubber pellet infill on the surface of the turf to make it feel more natural. As a result, the pellets come in near-constant contact with people using the fields.
Gavin Kearney at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest said, “New Yorkers deserve safe parks. Where legitimate health concerns are raised, the Parks Department should support efforts to address those concerns and not stone wall the process.”
Christian DiPalermo, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, said, “Questions remain, and the City should make every effort to examine the turf issue in a transparent way to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers and the best use of public dollars.”
Professor Crain and researchers at Rutgers University have already secured funding to complete an independent study of the pellets. However, the funding is predicated on Parks Department authorization. Public Advocate Gotbaum said that the City should allow Rutgers University or another independent organization to analyze the health impact of these pellets.
Bulletin#3 14/03/07
Bulletin #3
Dear Friends of Westmount Park:
Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! has some significant news:
- At the Westmount City Council sitting on Feb. 26, 2007, Westmount Mayor Karin Marks said that the proposal for synthetic turf in Westmount Park has been delayed, but at the same time the process of deliberating about the Park is “far from over.” She again promised a public meeting to discuss the issue, with full community input, but gave no specific date for the meeting. Also, she indicated that the environmental engineering report on the synthetic option for Westmount Park, commissioned from Golder Associates, had been sent back to that firm for the second time. Since the City indicated that the report would be publicly available by Jan. 15, we believe the back-and-forth with the Golder advisors indicates significant differences of opinion between the City of Westmount and its own environmental consultant. While Save The Park! has made the case for keeping the grass, we need to keep talking to people, to spread the word, and to prepare for the public meeting whose date is still uncertain.
- The Founding Director of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Phyllis Lambert, has signed the petition of Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! Ms. Lambert knows the history of Westmount Park and her support reinforces the view that Westmount Park is indeed heritage greenspace.
- The March/April issue of Canadian Geographic has a report on the fight to preserve Westmount Park, “Turf War,” on P. 28 of the magazine. In the piece, Mavis Young of Save The Park! talks about the heavy metals used to make synthetic turf and the leaching of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the river which flows under Westmount Park. Patrick Barnard indicates that no one in Westmount “understands how you can plasticize this space.” And a teacher at Westmount Park School, Alanna Dow, who is also the Chair of that school’s council, has the last word in the Geographic article: “In the end, it comes down to the fact that we are living through the threat of incredible global warming, and we should be keeping every oxygen-producing patch of grass we have.” If you would like a scanned, personal version of the article please send your request to: pbarnard@videotron.ca You can also access the article by clicking on the LINKS box of the web-site at www.savewestmountpark.com
- Please tell concerned individuals who have not already signed our petition to sign the petition at www.savewestmountpark.com
Texte français
Bulletin No. 3
Chers amis du Parc Westmount:Sauvons le parc! a d’importantes nouvelles à vous communiquer :1. Lors de la réunion du Conseil municipal de Westmount le 26 février 2007, la mairesse de Westmount, Karin Marks, a dit que la proposition visant à poser un gazon synthétique dans le Parc Westmount a été retardée, mais que le débat sur le sujet était « loin d’etre clos. » Elle a de nouveau promis qu’une réunion publique serait tenue pour permettre à toute la communauté de débattre de la question, sans toutefois en préciser la date. Mme Marks a également laissé entendre que l’expertise sur le gazon synthétique, dont le mandat avait été confié à Golder Associates, ingénieurs conseils en environnement, avait été renvoyé à ce cabinet pour la deuxième fois. La Ville ayant annoncé que le rapport serait disponible le 15 janvier, nous sommes d’avis que ce va-et-vient permet de conclure à une divergence d’opinion marquée entre la Ville et ses propres consultants. Bien que Sauvons le parc! ait elaboré un dossier convaincant en faveur du gazon naturel, il nous faut continuer à en parler autour de nous, à conscientiser un maximum de concitoyens et à nous préparer en vue de la rencontre publique dont la date n’est pas encore connue. 2. Phyllis Lambert, directrice fondatrice de Centre canadien d’architecture, a signé la pétition de Sauvons le parc! Mme Lambert connaît l’histoire du Parc Westmount et son appui vient étayer notre position, à savoir que le Parc Westmount est véritablement un espace vert patrimonial. 3.Dans son numéro de mars/avril, Canadian Geographic publie un article sur la lutte pour préserver le Parc Westmount (voir « Turf War, » p.28). Mavis Young de Sauvons le parc! y évoque les métaux lourds qui entrent dans la fabrication du gazon synthétique ainsi que les HPA (hydrocarbones polycycliques aromatiques) qui s’en dégageraient et contamineraient la rivière qui coule sous le parc. Dans le meme article Patrick Barnard déclare que personne à Westmount « ne comprend que l’on puisse plastifier cet espace. » L’article conclut sur une citation d’Alanna Dow, présidente du conseil scolaire et enseignante à Westmount Park School : « En fin du compte, nous vivons sous la menace d’un important réchauffement planétaire et nous devrions donc préserver tous nos espaces verts, générateurs d’oxygène. » Si vous désirez obtenir une version électronique de cet article, veuillez communiquer avec pbarnard@videotron.ca ou cliquez sur LINKS au www.savewestmountpark.com 4. Veuillez encourager toute personne intéressée à signer notre pétition au www.savewestmountpark.comBulletin #2 31/12/06… End of Year Greeting
Dear Friends of Westmount Park:
Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! wants to wish you a very good 2007!
As you know, we oppose the replacement of natural grass by synthetic turf in the southern section of Westmount Park because of community concerns which are social, environmental, and financial.
SOCIAL CONCERNS: Preservation of the park's natural greenspace involves crucial issues of ethics and stewardship. Since the southern section's acquisition by Westmount in 1910 as "the extension of the Park," these fields have served as a multi-purpose area for sports and all kinds of free, unprogrammed public access. Today Westmount Park School, with its richly diverse population, uses the area as its green playground. The Westmount Park School Council has written a letter to Mayor Karin Marks asking Westmount not to proceed with the installation of synthetic turf and indicating that the School sees the synthetic turf proposal as an attack on the environment. Save The Park! feels the school speaks for all of us.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS: Citizen demand prodded Westmount officials to publicly release their consulting architect's report for the Park, but the city withheld one all-important page because, in the words of one official, "We do not agree with it." After one month of pressure, Save The Park! secured the missing material which is the architect's assessment of the "pros and cons" of proposals for the southern fields. In that evaluation, the synthetic turf proposal receives the architect's lowest possible rating for "environmental value": 1 out of 10. An environmental engineering report has just been completed for Westmount, but the City has yet to make that public either to us or the public at large. Its full release has been promised.
FINANCIAL CONCERNS: At their Dec. 18th meeting, Westmount Council indicated the City has inherited a $37.9 million debt from the de-merger, and that in 2007 $5.7 million of the Capital Works Program "will be funded through borrowing." In response to a question from a member of Save The Park!, Council confirmed that the proposed cost of $1.7 million for synthetic turf was not included in the 2007 Capital Works Program but would be a supplemental appropriation if approved. This would amount to a 23% increase in the 2007 Capital Works Program, presumably financed exclusively through additional debt. Even without the synthetic turf project, Westmount estimates that it will be approximately 10 years before it can pay for annual capital works without resorting to additional borrowing, and 20 years before the City's debt is paid off. For Save the Park! synthetic turf equals poor fiscal management.
Westmounters love the park and its greenspace, as do many Montrealers. The City has promised a public meeting to discuss the Park issue. As soon as we have the details, we will e-mail you and will be encouraging people to come to the meeting so that a full, democratic discussion can take place. You can reach us at any time through the web-site's contact box.
Thank you…and Happy New Year! Save The Park! Sauvons le parc!
---------------
Chers amis du Parc Westmount,
Save The Park! Sauvons le parc ! vous souhaite une très bonne année 2007 !
Comme vous le savez, nous nous opposons au remplacement du gazon naturel par une surface artificielle dans la section sud du Parc Westmount pour des raisons d'ordre social, environnemental et financier.
LES ENJEUX SOCIAUX : La préservation des espaces verts naturels est une question d'éthique et de bonne intendance. Depuis l'acquisition du secteur sud par Westmount pour agrandir le parc en 1910, ces terrains ont servi non seulement aux sports organisés mais aussi à toutes sortes d'activités de loisir non-structurées et ouvertes à tous. Ces terrains servent aussi de cour de récréation aux élèves de l'école primaire Westmount Park, issus d'une riche diversité de communautés culturelles et de quartiers qui n'abondent pas en verdure. Le conseil de l'école a écrit une lettre à la Mairesse Karin Marks, lui demandant de ne pas procéder à l'installation du gazon synthétique et qualifiant le projet d'attaque contre l'environnement. Sauvons le parc ! partage l'opinion de l'école et appuie sa démarche.
LES ENJEUX ENVIRONNEMENTAUX : La pression des citoyens poussa Westmount à rendre public le rapport de l'architecte-conseil concernant le projet, à l'exception d'une page essentielle avec laquelle, selon un fonctionnaire, « nous étions en désaccord ». Après un mois de pression soutenue, Sauvons le parc ! a obtenu la page manquante. Celle-ci résume le pour et le contre du projet de gazon synthétique et, sur le plan environnemental, lui donne la cote la plus basse, soit 1 sur 10. Un autre rapport, celui-ci rédigé par un ingéneur en environnement, vient d'être remis à la Ville mais n'a pas encore été rendu publique. Nous l'attendons vers la mi-janvier.
LES ENJEUX FINANCIERS : Lors de sa réunion du 18 décembre, le Conseil municipal de Westmount a indiqué que la Ville avait hérité d'une dette de $ 37,9 millions suite à la défusion, et qu'en 2007, $ 5,7 millions du programme de travaux d' immobilisations sera « financé par emprunt ». En réponse à une question d'un membre de Sauvons le parc !, le Conseil confirma que le coût projeté de $ 1,7 millions du gazon synthétique serait, s'il était approuvé, une dépense supplémentaire. Ceci représente une augmentation de 23 % du programme de travaux d'immobilisations 2007, financée sans doute entièrement par un emprunt supplémentaire. Même sans le projet de gazon synthétique, Westmount estime qu'environ 10 ans s'écouleront avant que la Ville ne puisse financer ses travaux d'immobilisations annuels sans emprunt supplémentaire, et 20 ans avant que la dette de la Ville ne soit payée. Aux autres défauts du gazon synthétique, il faut donc ajouter celui de la mauvaise gestion financière.
Les habitants de Westmount, et bien des Montréalais, sont profondément attachés au Parc Westmount. La Ville a promis de tenir une réunion publique pour discuter du projet de gazon synthétique. Dès que nous en connaîtrons la date et le lieu, nous communiquerons avec vous par courriel dans l'espoir que vous serez nombreux à participer à cette réunion et à notre action citoyenne. Vous pouvez nous contacter en tout temps en passant! par notre site web.
Merci et Bonne Année ! Save The Park! Sauvons le parc !
First Bulletin 16/11/06
"I am unequivocally opposed to the loss of any green space on the island of Montreal for the simple reason that our city is way below the international norm for hectares of green space per capita!"
- Dr. David Bird, Prof. of Wildlife Biology, McGill University, in an e-mail to Save The Park!
Dear Friends of Westmount Park:
Thank you very much for signing the petition of Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! Your support and group advocacy have already led to three important new decisions taken at the last meeting of Westmount City Council on Mon. Oct.30, 2006.
1. A commitment to Mavis Young of Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! from Mayor Karin Marks for a public meeting in the future at which the plans for Westmount Park will be openly discussed by the citizens of Westmount
2. A commitment from Mayor Marks to appoint an environmental engineer to conduct an assessment
3. A commitment from Mayor Marks to give Daniel Louis of Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! a copy of the real planning proposal for Westmount Park. That document was prepared by Fauteux et associés on April 6th, 2006, and its title is « Westmount Park Soccer Fields: Design options and cost estimates. » The Director General of Westmount, Mr. Bruce St. Louis, has now publicly given that document to Mr. Daniel Louis.
We believe authorities originally planned to have an enabling resolution to begin these radical changes by November 2006. Your signing of the petition has gained precious time for concerned citizens to speak up, since the environmental study, to cite one example, will take a certain period to complete.
If you can find the occasion, please speak to like-minded friends and tell them to visit the web-site and encourage them to sign the petition.
Also, you can periodically consult this web-site which we will update with news as it comes in.
Thank You,
Save The Park! Sauvons le parc!
« Je m'oppose catégoriquement à toute perte d'espace vert sur l'île de Montréal, pour la raison très simple que notre ville est nettement en-dessous des normes internationales concernant le nombre d'hectares d'espace vert par habitant »
(Dr David Bird, Prof. de biologie, Université McGill)
Chers amis du parc Westmount,
Merci beaucoup d'avoir signé la pétition Save The Park! Sauvons le parc ! Votre appui et votre présence ont déjà mené à la prise de trois décisions importantes lors de la dernière réunion du conseil municipal de Westmount, le 30 octobre 2006.
1. La mairesse de Westmount, Karin Marks, s'est engagée envers Mavis Young de Save The Park! Sauvons le parc! à tenir une réunion publique, où les plans du parc Westmount seront discutés par les citoyens de Westmount.
2. La mairesse s'est engagée à mandater un « ingénieur environnemental », qui procédera à une évaluation.
3. Enfin, la mairesse a promis de remettre à Monsieur Daniel Louis, de Save The Park! Sauvons le parc le rapport préparé par Fauteux et associés le 6 avril 2006 et intitulé : « Westmount Park Soccer Fields: Design options and cost estimates ». Le directeur général de Westmount, M. Bruce St. Louis, a donné publiquement une copie de ce rapport à M. Daniel Louis.
Nous croyons qu'à l'origine, le conseil municipal envisageait de débuter son projet mal conçu de transformer le parc vers la fin de novembre 2006. Grâce à votre signature, nous avons gagné un temps précieux, qui permettra aux citoyens de Westmount de parler, de discuter et de délibérer comme il faut, étant donné que l'étude environnementale à elle seule nécessitera un temps considérable.
Si l'occasion se présente, parlez de ce projet aux amis et associés qui partagent vos valeurs, et demandez-leur de signer la pétition.
On va vous donnez des autres nouvelles aussi vite que possible! Veillez consulter notre site web pour des renseignements nouveaux.
Merci encore!
L'équipe de Save The Park! Sauvons le parc!