[TAS]

The swings are a bit different from a playground swing in that they include limit stops to prevent people from swinging dangerously high. I expect that people are abusing the swings and bumping hard against the stops. The short distance between the pivot axis and the stop itself creates a large force multiplying effect - perhaps enough to shear the bolt. The limit stops are hard to see as they'd be located up high near the pivot or even inside the light ring. I'd be curious to see if the swings get redesigned with the stop located outside of the light ring, further from the pivot axis, to beef it up. I'm sure the designers would have resisted that option as it would be ugly and create pinch point etc.

I think it's a lot of what you describe - it's what I was thinking and you explained it much better than I could.

 

[degrandprix]

The lack of law enforcement patrol in this park is pathetic. Way on the city to make the case that we shouldn’t be investing in new central green spaces like this cause they’ll just be used by the homeless

I was at the park last week and saw 3 peace officers that seemed to be patrolling it. No idea how common this is though

 

[David A]

The swings are a bit different from a playground swing in that they include limit stops to prevent people from swinging dangerously high. I expect that people are abusing the swings and bumping hard against the stops. The short distance between the pivot axis and the stop itself creates a large force multiplying effect - perhaps enough to shear the bolt. The limit stops are hard to see as they'd be located up high near the pivot or even inside the light ring. I'd be curious to see if the swings get redesigned with the stop located outside of the light ring, further from the pivot axis, to beef it up. I'm sure the designers would have resisted that option as it would be ugly and create pinch point etc.

Sounds like a design issue. Assuming people will only use something as intended generally leads to many problems. Hopefully it can be fixed/improved without detracting too much, as they are a very nice feature for the park.

 

[thommyjo]

Spent 8-10am at the park today.

0 police officers.
3 landscapers trimming grass.
6 passed out people.
5 fent folders.
8+ red alert members with bmxs and speakers
6 swing taped off and broken.
4 picnic benches with significant graffiti on them.

Holy COE and EPS. Do your freakin jobs and protect our assets.

 

[David A]

While it is often a drawn out process and not cheap, the city seems able to build things. Where it seems to fall down again and and again is in maintaining them.

 

[MacLac]

Spent 8-10am at the park today.

0 police officers.
3 landscapers trimming grass.
6 passed out people.
5 fent folders.
8+ red alert members with bmxs and speakers
6 swing taped off and broken.
4 picnic benches with significant graffiti on them.

Holy COE and EPS. Do your freakin jobs and protect our

Lines 3, 4 and 5 are most despised by me.

 

[johnnyboy]

Lines 3, 4 and 5 are most despised by me.

Line 1 should take care of 3, 4 ,5, and 7. Possibly even 6.

 

[Kosy123]

It’s interesting seeing the difference in changes because when I went at around after noon, it was full of people with no one passed out. Basketball court was in full use, but the swings were still broken.

 

[TAS]

Spent 8-10am at the park today.

0 police officers.
3 landscapers trimming grass.
6 passed out people.
5 fent folders.
8+ red alert members with bmxs and speakers
6 swing taped off and broken.
4 picnic benches with significant graffiti on them.

Holy COE and EPS. Do your freakin jobs and protect our assets.

I went at lunch but had to leave. I was looking for some shade today and there is none in this park.
Was busy though.

 

[cloney]

I went at lunch but had to leave. I was looking for some shade today and there is none in this park.
Was busy though.

Hopefully with good growing conditions the trees will have decent shade in 10 years. For now you just have to follow the shadow of the parks lol

 

[Barnaby]

Hopefully with good growing conditions the trees will have decent shade in 10 years. For now you just have to follow the shadow of the parks lol

I sure wish these projects would include a few large trees from day 1. Alex Decoteau is just getting there after 9 years.

 

[IanO]

Hard to bring in mature trees and a 1.5-2" calliper tree should see results in a few years, but the reality is that it will take a decade for it to really come into its own.

 

[TAS]

Hard to bring in mature trees and a 1.5-2" calliper tree should see results in a few years, but the reality is that it will take a decade for it to really come into its own.

And much much longer for the Burr Oaks!

 

[David A]

This is one of the challenges of a new park, it takes a while for the trees to fill out and mature. Could they have kept some of the more mature trees along 106 Street? With all the construction and disruption, I'm not sure and frankly some did not look so great. The ones they have brought in are actually a fairly good size now, so they will grow and look much nicer in a few years. It will not be that long.

 

[constance_chlore]

There are not many situations where I would recommend transplanting large, mature trees (although the CoE does have programs to do so). It's very expensive and the risk of transplant shock is just too high.