It is with deep regret and frustration that we submit this letter to the City of Greater Sudbury. For the past two and a half years, Myths and Mirrors Community Arts has been actively involved in the Donovan Elm West Community Action Network, which has seen an impressive increase in the participation of residents, business owners, and youth in our neighborhoods. We are involved because we believe in the importance of the Community Action Network and of the need for the community to engage in community decision-making around issues that affect the neighborhood.
For the past year, we have also worked actively with other members of the Community Action Network to increase youth participation and address some of the issues of concern to the residents, particularly in the area of Heritage Park. We have come to understand that the issues there are complex and will require an extensive commitment from all involved to address them in ways that build community rather than destroy it.
As a result of our work with other members of the Donovan, and with the support of the Community Action Network and of Councilor Evelyn Dutrisac, our four summer students mobilized the youth at Heritage Park to paint a mural on the façade wall, a façade which in the past had been a focal point of contention among the neighbors. Our summer students observed all kinds of problems in the neighborhood, but despite these, were able to facilitate a discussion with the youth about the park and what it meant to them, and led them through a collective process to identify the theme of the mural. The youth painted images of peace and respect, and dedicated the mural to Adam Dickey, a youth who drowned in Junction Creek, but who also saw Heritage Park as a space to hang out with his friends.
Overall, the time of five of our staff, plus a considerable amount of our financial resources went into the production of the mural at Heritage Park. ( Here is a link to our online photo gallery of the summer project:
http://www.flickr.com/phot
It is therefore with shock and disappointment that we write this letter. We found out that the façade was destroyed on Monday, September 28th in the afternoon, from one of our volunteers who lives close to Heritage Park and happened to go by it on her way to work. No one from the City informed us that this was going to take place, nor did they consult with us as to what to do with the artwork that was dismantled. And finally, no one seemed to care that it was a group of youth, who face all kinds of barriers to community engagement, who worked so hard on painting that mural.
While we understand that Heritage Park is City property, the fact remains that Myths and Mirrors and dozens of neighborhood youth were partners with the City in this initiative, and at the very least, we all should have been consulted about how to dispose of their artwork. But we have other questions:
1. Why would the City provide financial and in-kind support to a project if it was going to be dismantled two months later?
2. What is the point of engaging marginalized youth in a community engagement process that will only serve to disempower them even more?
3. Is this how the City plans to address social problems in all areas of Greater Sudbury, or is destroying parks a tactic reserved only for the Donovan?
Derek Young
Dear Editor..
This letter is in response to the Heritage Park Razing. Firstly, I would like to congratulate Tanya Ball and the youth at Myths and Mirrors who work tirelessly to promote youth events and civic engagement in the community. Having worked with Tanya and Myths and Mirrors on previous projects I know the good they do in the community and the importance of engaging youth in their communities.
I must say that having read that Councillor Evelyn Dutrisac ordered the city to destroy the buildings on site at Heritage Park is very disheartening and shocking. Destroying these buildings does not deal with the real issues that have been raised such as drinking, drug use etc. It is important that these youth be supported in their efforts and have meaningful projects that they can be engaged in and have a place to hang out which indirectly addresses the concerns that have been raised. By destroying these buildings we have destroyed the dreams and efforts of these youth who have worked hard to make inroads in the Donovan community through their participation in the Community Action Network.... Read more
When will our city deal with the real issues surrounding the use the drugs and alcohol in public spaces, lack of youth engagement, lack and recreational facilities etc? Tearing down buildings, putting up fences, creating roadblocks is not leadership and does not deal with the real issues which will still exist.
Its time some city councillors and staff take a step back and look at the big picture vision of what Sudbury can be by engaging youth in their community and not campaigning to win votes in the next election which is narrow minded and demonstrates a lack of vision and long term planning. We sit back and say youth don't vote and youth aren't engaged in their community but yet we continue to do things that force youth to become disengaged and have their dreams and efforts destroyed then wonder why they do not vote.
Councillor Dutrisac should take a lesson from Councillor Landry-Altmann whom I have had to pleasure to work with on many park projects. Landry-Altmann has faced similar challenges in her ward. During her term thus far Percy Park, Red Fern, and Ridgecrest have been revitalized and become community gathering spaces serving the unique characteristics of their respective neighbourhoods. Another great example is the green stairs at Ste. Anne Road which now has a park like atmosphere with new shrubs, sculptures, and green space. We did not tear down the green stairs and parks when there were similar issues.
Enough is enough. We must move forward as a city and address the real issues. Programs such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) by Sudbury Police provide the tools and resources to deal with these issues in Heritage Park without destroying the park and hopes and dreams of the area's youth who will be our next leaders.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Donovan Heritage Park Bulldozed by City
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2 comments:
I would like to comment on the threads above.
Firstly, this story is a case in point that when you do not live and experience the situation for yourself, it is easy to judge. Being a resident of Bloor Street, and experiencing firsthand what was occurring in this public space, I believe there were few options but to remove the structures in the park.
While I agree that Myths and Mirrors does great work, and their efforts in Heritage Park were noble and the mural was great, yet the fact remains that this park was a hub for drug and alcohol usage and vandalism. I understand that youth need a place to hang out; however, this location was actually becoming an enabler for these teenagers, ranging from 11 to 18. More recently, young adults were frequenting the park, and there is an abundance of evidence demonstrating that drug deals are occurring. Interestingly, in speaking to an active member of Myths and Mirrors, they also agreed that perhaps putting a mural in the park was not a great idea because the location is an enabler for our youth to participate in illegal activities. So clearly, not all members of Myths and Mirrors feel that this was a constructive project in Heritage Park. Additionally, I would like to add that the artwork /mural has not been destroyed; rather it was moved to Victory Park for viewing there.
Speaking to the point that Councillor Dutrisac requested the structures to be removed from the park, this is true, but only after over 70 community residents signed a petition to have the structures removed. Councillor Dutrisac was acting on the request from a number of ward residents who have homes and raise their families in the area. This request was not on the Councilor’s own accord, and was also not after the first request. Neighbourhood residents have been requesting for these structures to be removed for a few years now, however, as the ill natured activities (drug and alcohol use, drug dealing and prostitution) in the park continued, naturally those raising families in the area wanted to put a stop to it. As a resident, I also did not want to see this park continue to be an enabler for youth in acquiring drug habits, and I surely did not want to see my own children become frequents of the “cool hang out place on Bloor St.”. While I understand that not every youth that frequents the park was participating in these illegal activities, and many of them were merely hanging out with their friend, the fact remains, that these activities were occurring, and it is unfortunately that those who were not participating are losing their hang out place. But, something must be done.
I would also like to comment on the need to get to the root of the problem, although it is understood that removing the structures from Heritage Park will not solve these problems, I also feel that people are quick to judge. In fact, the local CAN has been exploring ideas on how we can offer activities to local youth, and are in the works of doing so. For instance, an individual is volunteering their time to offer the kwon doe lessons to local youth… free of charge, also Landsdown school will be opened one night a week for the youth do participate in activities.
My point… people are quick to judge, but when you live in the neighborhood, you realize that there is a serious problem here, and I personally do not to continue to watch these youth do drugs and drink alcohol in my backyard, because to some degree, I will feel responsible when these simple acts lead into more serious problems.
William Morin 09 October at 14:31 Reply
We have a large super highway now open just south of the city, with roads paved better then city roads. When Councillor Evelyn Dutrisac ordered the city to destroy the Heritage Park we again are shooting ourselves in the foot as a City and chasing out our youth and inviting our creative community members to leave.
With the treatment of youth yet again we are making it far too easy for our youth to leave the city and leave with their broader contributions of insight, creativity, and hands to work with you to find solutions based in the community.
Having worked for many years with Myths and Mirrors, and youth from all cultural groups I am inspired by their passion and energy, their ability to forgive and move onto some new.
As a local artist I assisted in painting a large community mural in the lane way between the Time Square and what was the back of the Capital Bingo. I contributed one of my images. It was a truly youth venture to bring art and beauty to the downtown. Sadly it to was demolished to make way for another parking lot.
Actions speak louder than words. It seems there is a lack of vision with the City and some of our Councilors have many problems, short on solutions. Where is the creative perspectives seen everywhere else in northern Ontario but not in Sudbury?
As an artist and educator I also have a business as a Creative Consultant. I offer my services to Council and city staff. In fact, any artist and youth might be able to offer solutions that, thus far, don't appear to exist at the City. The youth and the community would be more insightful than the existing procedure in place at the city.
William Morin, 561-8004, willpower@ontera.net
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