St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen says city officials will be meeting with residents in the Tupper Laurier Park area over the coming days to discuss a project that he admits got “off on the wrong foot.”
Some residents were shocked to find that the city had planted numerous trees in an otherwise well-used open green space in the park, which they say will affect the way the park is used.
Breen explains that the trees were planted as part of an initiative to “naturalize” areas and reduce the carbon footprint.
(File photo.)
He says since the project began, some neighbourhoods have expressed concerns about the impact on open space and about a lack of consultation on where the trees could have been planted. Breen apologizes to residents and admits that the city should have taken more time to engage with people about the initiative.
He says that he, Ward Councillor Deanne Stapleton, and city staff will be meeting with residents in the coming days and that in areas where planting has not yet occurred, people will have the opportunity to provide feedback on what they think should be done.
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Jul 19, 2021 – Tree-Planting Placement in Well-Used St. John’s Park Not Sitting Well with Area Residents
