Re: Arlington Drive articles from the Feb. 6 Gazette: How funny is this that you ask the people of Akinsdale to purchase the land if they want it as parkland Did you have to purchase the land in your neighborhood that has been used as parkland?
Look at a map of the City of St. Albert and you will notice that Akinsdale has the smallest park area in the city. We were promised three schools to serve Akinsdale and Pineview and we only got one school to serve two neighbourhoods, unlike Lacombe Park, which has three schools and four large parks to serve their one neighbourhood. The people of Akinsdale would have supported a school on the site instead of having to bus our children to school.
As for building 58 condos on 70 Arlington Dr., try to visualize putting 58 condos on Langley Park. Visualize the traffic, the vehicles, the parking. Visualize the safety of your children and elderly. Do you get the point Akinsdale is trying to get out there?
We are not against Habitat for Humanity or affordable housing. It is just that we have no more land to give. We have to deal with Anthony Henday Drive in our backyards and now losing what little parkland we have in Akinsdale. There is nowhere we can go as Akinsdale is practically in Edmonton. There is a lot more land north, west and east of St. Albert. The south is completely developed.
We paid our dues for the land at 70 Arlington Dr. when we were promised the school. We paid with the purchase of our property and also our taxes. We should not have to pay again. I am using Lacombe Park as an example because one if not both of the writers of the articles lives directly across the street from large parkland. Maybe the 58 condos should be built directly in front of his/her home. Tax dollars from the people of Akinsdale helped build the parks and the three schools in your area. All of St. Albert should share in the burden.
As for Akinsdale having an exclusive place to walk their dogs and other green space activities, is this not so throughout all of St. Albert? I have watched many children play their soccer games on the parkland at 70 Arlington Dr. Most of these children are coming from neighbourhoods like yours. I would rather let the children play than have them hurt or injured. The Anthony Henday is bad enough; we do not need all that extra traffic, noise and possible injuries on Arlington Drive too. I am sure you are very happy that an extra 58 condos and Anthony Henday are not in your neighbourhood. As for Akinsdale having to pay, we are paying because our property value is going down, thanks to all of this.
Lori Fabian, St. Albert
