WORKING TOGETHER ON SAFETY AT EAST LYNN PARK

Residents Worried About Illegal Activities In Area Park

Drug dealing. Loitering. Vandalism and robberies of nearby homes and
businesses. Residents and merchants living and working near East Lynn
Park at Danforth and Woodbine avenues have had enough of this illegal
activity in their neighbourhood.

About 70 community members gathered last week to blow off some steam
and come up with some solutions to these problems.

Hosted by Ward 32 Councillor Sandra Bussin (Beaches-East York), the
meeting was an opportunity for neighbours to talk about illicit
activities in the area and to get to know their neighbours a bit better.

Despite their initial optimism, neighbours were visibly upset that a
scheduling conflict prevented representatives from 55 Division police
from attending the session. Supt. Wayne Peden has since confirmed
he'd attend an upcoming meeting about issues in the East Lynn area.

Nonetheless, a lot of ideas and strategies were shared at the gathering.

"I think the easiest way to do this is to get people talking," Bussin
said. "I have several ideas tonight as a group how we will be able to
get the attention of the police."

After letting neighbours air their frustrations about a slew of
issues like drug dealing, marijuana smoking, lack of police response,
break and enters, park safety, stolen bikes sales, graffiti and
vandalism, Bussin said one of the best ways for community members to
have their voices heard is by forming a residents group.

"I think that's probably one of the best things we can achieve
tonight," said Bussin, who also went on to discuss the benefits of
the upcoming establishment of a local business improvement area.

Sheila Mattar, a local resident and mother of a young son who enjoys
playing in the park, said she'd be interested in joining a residents group.

"We're very nervous and concerned, but I do think as a community we
can make a difference," said Mattar, adding she, too, was the victim
of vandalism when she was one of three neighbours on her street who
had their tires slashed and cars keyed.

Ted Hope, a neighbour for three-and-a-half years, said he attended
the meeting to learn more about what's happening in his community.

Like local resident Joanna Ivey, Hope said he feels more policing
isn't the best solution, although curbing the illegal activity is a must.

"I'm here this evening because I wanted to show I'm concerned and I
wanted to know what we could do as a community to improve our
neighbourhood," said Ivey, a mother of two young children.

She's also one of more than 50 neighbours who have gathered for about
two years now in the park for Monday evening pizza night.

Rusty Warkman, parks supervisor for Toronto and East York, was also
on hand at the meeting to speak on behalf of Toronto parks, forestry
and recreation about ways it can help make East Lynn Park safer.

"We try to be as reactive and as proactive as we can," Warkman said,
adding he's recently communicated with the police about safety issues
at East Lynn Park.

Warkman said his team would do its best to upgrade the park's
lighting and relocate benches to more open areas to discourage
illicit activities.

"It won't be tomorrow, but we will get in there and move those
benches around," said Warkman, adding he'd also worked to have the
benches chained down so they can't be moved to "hiding places" in the park.

Working with Bussin and parks and recreation, The East Lynn Park
Foundation, which is made up of nearby residents, is also
contributing safety and better design ideas to an upcoming $200,000
upgrade to the park, notably the children's play area.

One ideas raised at the meeting was to make East Lynn Park an
"off-leash" park so that neighbours out walking their dogs could keep
a better eye on the area.

"When you have people out and about it makes a difference," agreed
Bussin, advising neighbours to write letter of support for East Lynn
Park becoming a designated off-leash park.

Bussin also advised residents to take advantage of home safety audits
offered by the police and the Crime Prevention Association of Toronto (CPAT).

Elizabeth Hawley, CPAT's executive director, also attended the
meeting to talk about the programs her organization offers like
Neighbourhood Watch.

Hawley, who also sits of 55 Division's community police liaison
committee, said forming groups is an excellent way for neighbours to
be empowered and organized. She also said community walkabout and
safety audits are other great ways to identify issues and get
neighbours involved in monitoring their community for illegal activity.

A followup meeting about safety at East Lynn Park and its vicinity
will take place Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Earl Haig Junior Public School,
near Danforth and Coxwell avenues. Call 416-392-1376 for details.