The park on Thompson Road in the Granger subdivision regularly attracts teenaged bootleggers and intravenous drug users. As well, drunken parties could threaten the neighbourhood with a wildfire, says a local resident.

Murray Martin told city council Tuesday evening he knows of two party fires placed under the shelter of the park gazebo so far this summer, the latest occurring two weeks ago.

He and his wife, Lisa, had just knocked down the three-foot flames and pulled wood from the makeshift pit on the concrete floor as other neighbours began to arrive.

Had the blaze taken hold of the wooden structure and gotten up into the 10-by-10 roof beams, there's no question about the potential of starting a bush fire which could have spread to nearby homes – maybe the whole street, Martin told council.

The wind at the time, said the retired conservation officer and trained firefighter, was blowing at 18 to 20 kilometres and hour.

He asked council to see if it could get the Thompson Road park on the list for FireSmart work to clean out the brush which secludes the area.

Take away the curtain of vegetation and the park would be a lot less attractive to teenagers who want to hang out and party in relative obscurity, he said.

Partiers, Martin said, have turned the gazebo into a target for beer bottles and whiskey bottles, resulting in jagged glass hidden throughout the sandy area where kids play.

He said he's even seen evidence of somebody having defecated on the children's slide.

The park, he said, is also used by riders on ATVs.

"I've seen parents leaving with their children when these vehicles arrive.”

Living close by the park, Martin has heard discussions about alcohol and drugs sales.

"We've picked up syringes,” he told members of council. "We've picked up garbage you wouldn't want to hear about.”

Martin, who writes a Friday outdoors column for the Star, said he has made his concerns known to the RCMP, and has provided the police with photographs and other information.

Once, when he confronted a handful of teenagers, one of them knocked his glasses off his head, the 78-year-old told council.

Coun. Dave Austin asked about the status of the Granger Community Association. Martin was uncertain.

In order to get the Thompson Road park included in this fall's FireSmart program, the association would need to agree to oversee the contract, Austin pointed out.

Members of council indicated they'd look into the issue.

By Chuck Tobin

Star Reporter