Braeside residents living near Red Willow Park might finally get a good night’s rest, now that the city and RCMP plan to deter raucous late-night youth parties in the area.
City officials have drafted a strategy to increase police presence in the area and remove a bench and two picnic tables to clean out the rampant partying that has plagued residents for months.
Collin Steffes, chairman of the Braeside Neighbourhood Working Committee that voiced its concerns about the rowdy behaviour at city council last month, is happy with the city’s efforts.
“I’m happy with the fact that it has moved forward and we are seeing some of the physical changes,” said Steffes.
Other immediate changes include additional garbage cans that will be placed in the area, and trees will be pruned where youth often party to make the area more visible.
Steffes said he’s impressed with how quickly the city responded to the group’s concerns, but he’s particularly pleased with the RCMP’s decision to ramp up enforcement.
“The one thing that I really liked is that it listed first all of the enforcement,” he said.
According the city’s community and protective services division, the RCMP plan to have an ongoing bike patrol in the area with a focus on Braeside, and special bylaw constables will also increase evening patrols.
Police will also use an electric car that’s similar to a golf cart to focus on hot spots and, once the school year is finished, four Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officers will also focus on community policing in the area instead of returning to general duty.
According to Gail Barrington-Moss, acting general manager of community and protective services, long-term strategies are the real focus for the city and RCMP.
“We’ve got some short-term strategies and we’re implementing those, but we need to make sure that what we do is going to carry us through the long-term as well,” Barrington-Moss said.
She said the city and RCMP would continue to work with the neighbourhood group and consider some of the group’s long-term strategies that include the permanent closing of the footbridge, or even a seasonal community policing office near the mall.
“We’re moving on things and we’re all involved in this,” said Barrington-Moss. “It’s not just a policing situation, it’s not just FCSS or public works, we’re all in this together.”
Noise and late-night parties haven’t been as bad this year compared to last, said Steffes, but he thinks having a community police office nearby could be a strong deterrent.
“It just puts eyes and ears down there more frequently,” said Steffes. “I think that’s going to make a huge dent in this.”
Coun. Lorie Garritty, a Braeside resident, said council plans to stay involved.
“It’s our responsibility to keep the wheels turning,” Garritty said. “I think what needs to happen now is more meetings with the residents themselves.”
But he cautioned that it’s still too early to tell if these changes will have an impact.
“I understand that it’s a little quieter than it was, but I guess time will tell when school is out and the real summer weather starts.”
