This is a fervent appeal to you, whom we have elected in trust, to redress the re-zoning of this unique green space and re-establish its “Park” status accordingly, post-haste.

The issues that impel this appeal are ones of health, well-being and communal responsibility on behalf of our elected officials. The environmental crisis is forefront in discourses of world leading scientists, with conclusive evidence that desecration of urban green space induces health hazards. The volumes of data are prolific, however, one study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2006;60:587-592;doi:10.1136) sums a conclusion: “The research shows that the percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents. Green space seems to be more than just a luxury and consequently the development of green space should be allocated a more central position in spatial planning policy…the relation between green space and health is considerable…and it is in the very strongly urban areas that the proximity of green space becomes more important.”

Benny Park, one of the cleanest, safest, well used parks in NDG, establishes the sense of well-being. From morning until night, NDG citizens of all ages walk, play and participate in activities from daily baseball games and tai-chi exercises to frequent St. Monica’s school gym classes, summer day-camp sport and dog runs. For many elderly, the park is the only possible outing place; a true sanctuary. The outdoor pool is also a constant hub in the summer: parents teaching children to swim, teenagers soaring off diving boards, while others just drink in the sun and fresh air. An indoor pool, enclosed, and filled with dangerous chlorine fumes, is an unconscionable substitute.

We beseech you, our elected officials, to manifest the fiscal and communal responsibility with which we entrusted you. With confirmed construction of a Concordia Sports Complex a few blocks away to which the public will have access, there is no justification for duplication. If there must be construction, we implore you to:

. use the previously purchased Benny Farm site;

. include the promised CSSS; and

. honour the campaign promises you so avowedly made to us, the citizenry of NDG.

Residents of 4400 West Hill, NDG

Editor's note:The letter was accompanied by 58 signatures, which, for brevity's sake, The Chronicle is unable to publish.