DRUG ITEMS FOUND IN PARKS

The Parks and Recreation department have recently found more drug
paraphenalia on the grounds of the town's parks and playgrounds than
in the past.

However, facilities manager Mark Reinert is not about to say
substance abuse is happening on a regular basis in Petawawa's parks.

So far, they've recovered only marijuana pipes and glass bongs from
three of the town's 14 parks, namely the Millennium Trail, Kiddie
Land park and Nature's Acre park. To date, no syringes or traces of
illegal substances have turned up.

However, Mr. Reinert said it's disturbing that people are using these
safe areas meant for children and families as a place to engage in
substance abuse.

"Something that wasn't suppose to happen there, did happen there," he
said.

The worst area is Kiddie Land off Herman Street, although the
drug-related activity seems to be confined to the ball diamond at the
end of Norman Street. In August, recreation staff uncovered a fort in
a bush area near the diamond. Inside the structure, they found nine
marijuana inhalers and turned them over to the police. It's suspected
a group of youths, ages 10 to 12-years-old, were responsible, added
Mr. Reinert.

Since then staff have cleared some of the brush around the ball
diamond to make it more visible to the public.

Staff continue to find drug-related items on the Millennium Trail on
a weekly basis, especially on the barrier island at the Catwalk.
While Mr. Reinert said he's not raising any red flags, he believes
the town is seeing signs of a societal problem that affects all
communities.

"Ten years ago, I wouldn't have found anything," he said, asking,
"Does it escalate? When do we move into the stronger drugs?"

In the event syringes start showing up, recreation staff members have
been given extensive training in how to handle hazardous materials.
Mr. Reinert encouraged members of the public to inform the police
when they see people engaging in drug-related activity at town parks.

"This is where community groups can play a role and call when they
see something," he added. "We have a great community but we need to
protect it."