It would be nice if Dundas Central School had beautiful landscaping.  (Dundas Star, Dec 13 and Feb 14).

This is a school playground which does need improvement, but the proposed changes are troubling.

A few years back a group of dedicated parents and teachers had a berm built, planted trees and bushes. Great improvement, but it has all disappeared.

When Ms. Chin and/or principal Merlog have moved elsewhere or not so interested parents replace the current ones, will the same happen to Chin’s vegetable garden or wetlands?

I also wonder about the estimate that 80 per cent of the time the grounds are unusable.

How different will use be when these new ideas come about?

After a couple of days of rain, there will still be wet grass, including that in the natural amphitheatre, and puddles in the broad jump pit, and spots on the paved sections and worn-down grass areas, etc.; winter weather will still bring snow and ice (which incidentally the children do enjoy out in the playground even during that questionable 80 per cent of unusable time).

The wetlands will never be a play area and probably very little time an educational one – a few periods for a few classes a couple of times a year,  Because of weather, the amphitheatre will not be used any more than I have seen teachers conduct classes outdoors on warm or hot Spring and even Fall days.

I wonder where are the areas for students to learn or just play soccer, baseball, football during the 4 or 5 months of the year when weather permits.

The SE corner of the grounds need to be fixed.  Why does not the school board consult the city department that deals with drainage problems or with the water management experts in the Conservation Authority for a solution.  Then that corner could be as usable as the rest.

Aside from Central’s property being used for school needs, we now learn that it will be used as a public park.  When will that be – weekends, after school hours, all summer and school break times – or with the additional entrances to the school grounds, anytime?

Public space

As a public space, who will be in charge – the city or the school board?  It seems to me that parents should be most uncomfortable with the idea that the the public would be allowed in school areas while their children are at school.

Additionally, will there be guards at the unlocked doors during recess and lunch hours to keep the public from going into the school itself?

Once the public gets to use this area as a public space, there will be additional maintenance work, contrary to what is being asserted.

Will there be more lighting?  With all those trees, which I agree will certainly improve the looks of the area, the grounds will be much darker.

As it is, the school outdoor lighting is inconsistent, but with street lighting the openness of the current play ground makes most of it visible.  The new plans change this.

Will the police be asked to patrol more as I assume they do (or should do) for public parks?

I do wonder if this has all be thought through thoroughly and if all the affected parties have been informed regularly and allowed into the decision making.

Henrietta Henry 

Dundas