Gazebo? Rossglen Park

If only it were done... Now they have to landscape..

Apparently it will be open for use in August.

I think they should just hang a basketball net in it and call it a day.

This project took longer than the entire new city hall apartment complex. 

And despite the City insisting the community *asked* for this concrete monstrosity to destroy our beautiful green park, I cant find a single person who completed that survey requesting this to happen.

The survey the City continues to refer to was answered by a few hundred people - around 10% of two adult age groups. And the corresponding report states the most requested thing was an updated playground.

But in recent conversation with our Mayor, still no accountability is being taken for this crazy project and they just continue insisting the community wanted this and its going to be beautiful....

I think the new structure is great.  I would agree that it took longer than it should have and I dont think I want to know the price but it is a beutiful structure.  I've lived beside and used Rossglen park for decades and this is a great addition.   Complain about cost...sure .   I don't get complaining about improving our parks with functional space that can be used by many groups and individuals for years to come.

I disagree. I think the original beautiful old trees were much nicer and provided natural shade. As a child, I would much rather have had grass and trees to play around – the park is already quite small so a large portion has been taken up by the structure. Also I would have thought a shade closer to the play area would have been more useful. Even better, it would have been better to upgrade the play structures themselves before building a shelter.

Shelter was paid for by grants, not the city.  That might have something to do with the timeline of construction and obtaing funds.  Also why it was built instead of upgrading the play equipment.

If the project runs the full cost of $360K, taxpayers will pay roughly $55K towards it.

Grant money doesn't grow in trees.

Grant money is very often coming from other government levels/agencies, be it Federal or Provincial so in other words tax money in one form or an other. Not your taxes but surely from others in the country.

Grant money is not for $360K gazebo that nobody wants or asked. Having grant money It's not a green light for frivolous spending.

Quite the opposite indeed. In good governance, there is an added level of responsabilities in spending other's people money. We dropped the cauliflower in the soup with this one.

Let's make sure the city recognize this was a big boo boo.

Im tired of listening to people bitch about every little thing that iconvinces them in this town.  Take a look around at what's happening in the rest of the world, how about even the rest of the country?  We've got it so damn good here.  Clean water and air, next to nothing for crime, we were barely even touched by the fenynal crisis that ravaged other small towns in BC.  Have you walked around Nelson or downtown Trail lately and seen the rampant hard drug use? We got one homeless guy who's actually a decent guy who lives in his car, our streets are clean, we're probbaly one of the safest, friendliest communities out there.  It's like people here can't be content or happy unless they've got something to bitch and complain about.  Take a look around and be grateful for what you have.  Our town isn't on fire, undewater or being bombed in oblivion. 

  So many people want to nitpick every single thing that council does that they don't agree with.  You think you can do better?  You know how many hours they put in every week running this town for what amounts to less than what EI pays?  I make a habit of not criticizing what someone is doing Unless I think I can do it Better.  Instead of endless whining about every little thing you don't like, step up the the plate and run for council next election and show the community that you have all the answers and can do a better job.  But nobody in this town who constantly whines will ever do that bec they don't want to take on the burden and responsibility of serving their communtiy.  They'd rather just bitch and point fingers without even considering offering a solution.  Sure you voted, you got right to complain, but maybe actually try communicating with somebody on council or to one of their god awful boring council meetings and get educated.  You might find out that those people are doing theor best to take care of our community,  becuse guess what?  They live here too and pay taxes like the rest of us.

I think disagreeing with and/or trying to understand a decision made by council is 100% ok. And just because someone disagrees with them doesnt mean they need to run for Council and "do it better". There are many ways to get involved with and serve your community.

This particular project is just baffling.

In Plato's famous quote, "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors," 

[This quote serves as a reminder that if individuals choose to remain apathetic or uninvolved in political matters, they risk being governed by individuals who may not possess the necessary wisdom, knowledge, or altruistic intentions required for effective leadership. 

Politics is the arena where decisions about laws, regulations, and policies are made, directly impacting the lives of citizens. Participation in politics allows individuals to voice their concerns, advocate for change, and contribute to shaping their communities and countries. By abstaining from political involvement, individuals not only surrender their influence but also open the doors for individuals of potentially lesser capabilities to govern over them.] 

Quote from https://www.socratic-method.com

@dstrelioff...the people who love to complain would never have a hope of being elected....thankfully

I have lived in this town since 1975. I was a nurse at the Rossland hospital. I ran a business in the area. I raised my children here, and at the same time volunteered with 6 different community organizations and my partner was on city council. 

 I am entitled to express my opinion on this forum especially since I live in the neighborhood of the park and have for over two years witnessed the mess and inefficiency that has dogged this project.  The contractors travelled from Nelson and were seldom here. 

My quandary is in trying to understand the purpose that the structure serves. If it is for music events it is facing the wrong direction, there isn't enough parking and there isn't a toilet. (Simply stating a fact).  If it is to shelter three picnic tables, we were already happy with the shade from the trees that were cut down for this structure. 
Sure it was built with grant money, but that doesn't mean that we should waste that money. 
A project that should have cost around $100,00, coming in at three times that? Come on!

Chester, I agree 100%. Unless you live in the neighbourhood and have seen this disaster of a project unfold daily for more than two years, I hesitate to suggest you fully understand how this has impacted this park and surrounding neighbourhood.

When the trees were cut down, the surrounding

community went to Council meetings to express concern and raise questions about this project. There was a clear opportunity for Council to reconsider and truly hear what park users really wanted, which was/is an updated playground, not a massive concrete timber structure that removed all that greenspace that was used daily.

My daughter and I are frequent users of this park, purely because it is the only option in Lower Rossland. We hardly ever see any one else there, so I would hazard a guess that we are among the most active users of the park. We also have no use for this gazebo. Worse, I can't even really understand who or what purpose the gazebo was built to serve.

Meanwhile my daughter is forced to play on age inappropriate, rotting, decrepit playground equipment located on dirt that is filled with shards of glass. When I went to elementary school this same equipment was in place at my elementary school and I recall it being replaced for more equipment after a only a few years of attendance at most. That's right, this playground equipment was considered obsolete in other towns 25 YEARS AGO! And yet in Rossland instead of upgrading the actual draw to the park (the playground) we build a gazebo....

It is disappointing that I have to put my daughter into a car and drive down the Rossland hill to Trail to find age appropriate, good condition playground equipment. You look at Trail and how each neighbourhood has a quality playground with age appropriate options and Lower Rossland has.... this obsolete glass filled mess....now with a gazebo...yay I guess...

I also really despise the whole argument of "don't criticize unless you are willing to do it yourself" that always springs up whenever the decision of government officials is questioned. If we consider only the opinions of current, previous and aspiring Council members to be valid, that leads to a pretty small point of view doesn't it? Sounds like an echo chamber. We all have our roles to play in this society and all contribute something, that's literally how our world works. If we all went and worked in government in order to have our opinions be valid what would even be left for the governemt to govern? Just because I am personally not well suited to life as a politician does not mean my opinion as a resident and user of these facilities is irrelevant.

While I have great respect for those with the desire/ability to participate in local government, we also need to acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and bad decisions. Equally as important as being applauded for our successes is being made aware of our mistakes. It's how we learn and get better. I believe this Gazebo was a mistake. But that's just my non-government participating opinion, and therefore worthless.