Central Park saddled with neglect

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This article was published 30/03/2021 (1795 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Monday afternoon, the downtown site of a weekend daytime shooting was quiet.

In Winnipeg’s Central Park, children taking advantage of the sunny calm before the impending snowstorm intermingle comfortably, while masked parents and grandparents watch and take pictures. On a nearby bench, a man sitting alone idly scrolls his phone. A few more benches down, a group quietly passes the time.

Many people in the area hadn’t heard police had made two arrests, after gunshots were reported at Qu’Appelle Avenue and Carlton Street at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said one man was chasing another with a firearm; the man being chased (later sent to hospital with gunshot wounds) was also carrying a firearm.

Gang activity is considered an aspect of the incident, police said. Both men are in custody.

Tecleab Misgun Tewolde lives in a sienna-coloured building near Central Park. He’s watched the goings-on of the neighbourhood from his third-floor apartment since immigrating from Eritrea seven years ago.

Misgun Tewolde said his “eyes were widened” when he heard about Saturday’s incident, but noted he had seen evidence of violence in the area before.

He recalled seeing blood spilled on nearby sidewalks on more than one occasion. In one incident, a man stabbed another in the neck on the sidewalk outside of the nearby Knox United Church and walked away.

“He didn’t even bother running away, he was slowly, slowly moving down that corner, he walked away,” Misgun Tewolde told the Free Press.

Regardless, while aware of the area being labelled dangerous, he didn’t fully subscribe to the idea. He has seen more youth and families enjoying Central Park than problems within its borders.

Misgun Tewolde called for more regular police in the neighbourhood, in hopes of deterring crime before it starts.

Val Cavers is executive director at Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network, which is located next to Central Park and steps from where the shooting occurred.

In just the last few months, Cavers said, there had been a noticeable spike in criminal incidents in the area — and attributed it to the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating existing mental health issues.

“When incidents like this happen, it’s almost like it’s sort of descending into that’s what people will expect there,” she said. “You see the derelict buildings, the abandoned park, the broken play equipment, and the families are invisible because they’re hiding inside their homes afraid.”

The underlying issues existed before COVID-19 and will persist well after, in part, she said, because the City of Winnipeg and the province have left the neighbourhood to fend for itself.

“It’s a very high-need neighbourhood, with inappropriate social housing and a very high density of newcomers and Indigenous people who deserve so much better,” Cavers said.

“It’s a disgrace, what’s happening in Central Park right now.”

While Mosaic provides support to newcomers and Knox United Church hosts community-led initiatives, including a foot patrol and meal program, Cavers said those who are organizing within the community are often met with brick walls when looking for funding or support at the municipal or provincial level.

“You just say you want more flowers, and the city person would say they just get stolen, so that’s the end of it.”

The neighbourhood has no community centre or residents association, and at least one building directly in the area that could become housing sits empty, she said.

“Most refugees settle in that neighbourhood when they first come to Winnipeg, that’s their first experience with the city,” she said.

“They’re raising their kids there, there’s many families living in overcrowded housing, and not feeling like they have a safe place to raise their children. That’s the reality.”

Beverley came to the park with her family to get some sun and relax. Her children and grandchildren take on the small play structure, while she simultaneously eats Thai takeout and carries a fussing baby.

As she watches her partner Ryan and their son go down the slide together, she’s quick to say she’s well-aware of crime in the area — she’s lived nearby for seven years.

Police can only do so much, said Beverley, who asked her family only be referred to by their first names.

“Once they walk away, once they’re not around, something happens,” she said.

The family has discussed moving further south in Winnipeg, in hopes of providing a different experience for the young ones.

“I just want to get out of here — we’re already thinking about not staying here, it’s getting too unsafe,” she said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_