Winnipeggers meet with councillors over 'orphan park'

Some Winnipeg dog owners and others who go to Little Mountain Parkmet with two councillors on Thursday night to speak up for thecity-run park that's actually outside city limits.

Dubbed the "orphan park" by some, Little Mountain isone of 11off-leash areas run by the City of Winnipeg, but it'sin the Rural Municipality ofRosser.

Because the park doesn't belong in anycity ward, it's not within the official jurisdiction of anyone on council.

So St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes and Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma hosted a public meeting on Thursdayto hearfrom those who use the park and want to see it protected and improved.

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Park users mentioned simple issues such as the need for improved paths, opening the washrooms more often, and providing drinking water.

"Better maintenance, pick up the trash, keep the lawn goodbecause if you go look on the paths, it's all muddy after a rainstorm," said Jas Saini, who was at the park on Thursday evening.

Some at the meeting said they've been doing maintenance work on the park themselves for years.

Overall, park users told the councillors that Little Mountain Park doesn't need a major makeover, but just a little care and maintenance by city staff.

Park's future questioned

Some, like Lloyd Johnson, also raised concerns that Little Mountain Park could someday be cut in half by a major road construction project.

"[Chief] Peguis Trail extension or CentrePort Way, whichever way you want to call it, cutting right through the middle of our park here," Johnson said, pointing at a map.

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There has been no announcement of any such project, and Johnson acknowledged it could be decades before it happens, but he's convinced it's coming.

"If we don't address it now, make it public, make it out there, then it will be run over and the people will be looking at the bulldozers," he said.

Mayes said he does not know anything about plans for a major road, but he vowed to do whatever he can for those who love Little Mountain Park.

"I was surprised by a whole lot of what I heard, and that's part of why we had this meeting to find out more about the park and its users and what their priorities were," Mayes said.