NIGHT CLOSING SOUGHT FOR PARTY PARK

South Burnaby residents say park a hub for drug deals

Tucked away like a secret just south of Metrotown, Ledingham Park has
been receiving some unwanted attention during the past two years,
according to local residents.

The summer of 2010 was terrible, but this past summer there were
"bursts of problems" as well, according to Debra Morgan, Block Watch
captain for the neighbourhood surrounding the park.

The tiny park sits between Waverley and Jubilee avenues, and Victory
and Watling streets, hidden behind houses in the area and only
accessible through two back lanes.

"It's not visible from the street," Morgan said. "There's a little
kids playground, a bench and a basketball hoop. It's clearly meant for
children to use."

Despite the park's intended use, it has attracted an older crowd, she
said, with teenagers and young adults showing up to party there on
summer evenings after dark.

Residents have observed what they believe are drug deals - people
exchanging things from their car windows in the lane, and driving off
before the police arrive, after residents call in complaints.

The most recent and disturbing incident, though, took place on Sept.
16, when more than a dozen - Morgan estimates it was about 25 - people
showed up in the evening at about 10 p.m., she said. A fence in the
area had some boards removed by the revellers.

Multiple residents called in complaints, and the Burnaby RCMP came to
break up the party.

Because of this, and previous incidents, residents want the city to
institute a curfew, closing access to parks after dusk, Morgan said.

"There's no reason for people to be in parks after dark," she
said.

Two other area residents, Thomas Hasek and Gurch Ollek, have contacted
the city about the issue.

"I want the park to be a safe place for kids to use," said Hasek, who
has lived in the neighbourhood since 1978.

Over the years, the problem has increased, but so far the summer of
2010 was the worst.

"We've never had a consistent problem like we did (in 2010)," he
said.

Last summer, there was more activity than normal, he
added.

He would like to see access to the park from one of the lanes blocked
off, to make it more difficult for drug dealers to enter and leave the
area, Hasek said.

The matter has been referred to the city's department of parks,
recreation and cultural services.

Dave Ellenwood, director of the department, said city staff are
looking at the issue and will bring it back to the parks commission.

Regarding night closures of Burnaby parks, Ellenwood said it's an
issue that has been looked at before.

"It's absolutely a valid consideration to see if it works," he said,
adding, "we're pulling information from our files."

He hopes to get a report back to the commission, to be brought to
council, either this month or in December.

Cpl. Brenda Gresiuk, media relations officer for the Burnaby RCMP,
said five files have been opened on the park this year.

There have been repeated complaints of disturbances and suspicious
activities, she said, but added it is not considered a problem area.

"We wouldn't consider it to be a hotspot," Gresiuk said, adding that's
not to say the neighbourhood concerns aren't valid.