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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Residents cautious about park plan

Point Douglas group waiting to learn more

By: Larry Kusch

Posted: 07/24/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

POINT Douglas residents seem to be waiting for a concrete proposal from Premier Gary Doer before getting too excited about the idea of a provincial park in their midst.

Doer's surprise proposal -- made some time ago in a breakfast meeting with a few community activists and revealed last week by the Free Press -- wasn't mentioned once at a community meeting sponsored by the Point Douglas Residents Committee Thursday afternoon.

"I was expecting that question, actually," said executive director Karen Peters after the 40-minute meeting, which drew about three dozen people.

Since Doer first raised the idea of a provincial park along the Red River surrounding the historic area, neither he nor any other government representative has fleshed out the idea with the committee, which represents the largely residential community of North Point Douglas. The southern portion of the community is mainly industrial.

A spokesman for Doer said Thursday the province will meet with local residents and the other levels of government over the next several months to discuss the proposal.

Roanna Hepburn, who took over at the end of June from Sel Burrows as chairwoman of the residents committee, said she loves the idea, but wants more information. Burrows was at the breakfast meeting with the premier, but Hepburn was not.

"We're just waiting for them to contact us," she said of the province. "We don't know what (the park plan) entails, and there are a lot of questions a lot of us have."

Thursday's committee meeting revealed an ambitious organization with big plans, including programs to provide transition housing, addictions treatment and job training for some of the area's most troubled residents. They're also embarking on a community "living history" project that could one day turn into the creation of an area museum.

Community leaders passed out information on Zuken Days, to be held from noon to sundown on Aug. 15 at the Norquay Community Centre. The event, named after legendary city councillor Joe Zuken, will feature crafts, art sales, "tribal belly dancing" and entertainers such as Tom Jackson.

Winnipeg North NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who attended the Point Douglas meeting Thursday, said a new park is "a very interesting idea that has to be explored."

She said the area has a rich history and is "an example for the whole country" on how to conquer crime and rebuild a neighbourhood.

"I think (MP) Vic Toews is quite aware of what is happening here and as the key minister with the Conservatives in Ottawa, I think he would be quite interested in sitting down at the table (to discuss the proposed park). And I'm assuming city councillors are as well."

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 24, 2009 B2

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