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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Building supplies left at Jeske Park have neighbours upset over a lack of foresight and consultation by the city.

Rolls of chain link fencing, a wheelbarrow, pipes and other building materials were sprawled across one end of Jeske Park late Tuesday afternoon.

"We went away on holidays the last weekend in July so we were away the first three weeks of August," said Kevin Anderson, a Jeske Crescent resident. "When we came back we saw the project underway. I think the worker was there at lease a couple of days last week, but then we didn't see him after that."

"Not only is it somewhat of an eyesore ... but also it decreases the area of the park that the kids can utilize," stated Jeske Crescent resident Marian Tobin in a letter to Yellowknifer. "Not to mention the danger it poses to little toes and fingers."

Deputy mayor Mark Heyck said the workers were moved from the project to St. Joseph School in order to meet a deadline on the school's new soccer field.

"We had to have the site ready to make sure that it was prepped when the sod arrived," said Heyck. "So it was slowed down a little bit over at the basketball court near Jeske but we are planning on having the fence up next week."

Anderson said he received a letter dated Aug. 28 from Dave Hurley, facilities manager for the city, apologizing for the time delay and estimating the project's completion within two weeks.

The city is building the fence to prevent balls from bouncing onto the street.

Tobin estimated the project started more than four weeks ago.

Heyck said he did not know when the project had started.

Anderson questioned why the fence was being built in the first place. As far as he knows, people who use the park or live on the street don't have a problem with balls bouncing onto the street, he said.

"I mean looking at Jeske Park, the sign is actually where I think they should be spending some money," he said. "Especially with Ed Jeske passing earlier this year. His name lives on, on the crescent sign, and that's fine, but the park sign sure looks like it could use a replacement or a better solution for it so it's not being ripped apart by the elements.

"(The park) is just a great feature for the neighbourhood. I'm not sure if the big backstop is really what was needed for that area."

He also expressed concern over the possibility of the fence interfering with an ice rink at the park that neighbourhood kids frequent during the winter, adding that basketball games are infrequent on the court to begin with.

Heyck said the project was initiated after city staff received a request for the fence from a resident in the area. He said he was not aware of any complaints.

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