Disagreement Regarding the Removal of Basketball Nets
The issue was discussed during the August 16th municipal council meeting. (Photo : Pixabay)
Since the removal of basketball nets from Châteauguay’s Josaphat-Pitre Park on April 14th, several citizens have mobilized on social media in an effort to have them reinstalled. Conversely, a group of residents submitted a petition to the city council asking that the basketball courts remain permanently closed.
Translation Amanda Bennett
Many citizens from Albert and Viau Streets, which border either side of Josaphat-Pitre Park, say that their summer has been calmer. Before the basketball nets, which were installed in 2017, were removed they said they were constantly bothered by basketball players. Residents complained that they made a lot of noise, left garbage on the ground, and drew graffiti. According to neighbours, vehicles also travelled at high speeds around the park.
Gerry Parrillo, resident of the area, filed a petition during the August 16 municipal council meeting of the City of Châteauguay. He said he spoke on behalf of his neighbors. “We have a lot of gangs coming to the park with their music,” he said.
“They start at 7 o’clock in the morning until late at night. The music that they play is not clean music. It’s very vulgar, explicit music. Don’t forget, right next to the basketball courts, there are children playing in the splash pad, there are children playing in swings, they’re playing in the slides, and they hear this music.”
He added that the people who are complaining about the basketball court closure aren’t people who live near the park. According to him, even people from Montreal come to Josaphat-Pitre Park.
The petition asking for the permanent closure of the courts was signed by 50 neighbors, indicates the City of Châteauguay. The resident explained that the city councillor for his district De Bumbray, Lucie Laberge, encouraged him. She explained herself during the council meeting.
“On Facebook, there have been a number of requests to reinstall the basketball nets,” reported Ms. Laberge. “People tell me about it all the time. I think we had to take a stand, citizens and myself alike.”
The councillor for district 4 said she wanted to clear up the situation for everyone’s benefit. “People think that this year it’s a sort of punishment due to the pandemic and because so many people went there,” she stated. Ms. Laberge repeated that there is no question of reinstalling the baskets at anytime. She suggested a citizens’ meeting be organized to decide on a new use for the land.
Le Soleil de Châteauguay tried to reach Lucie Laberge without success.
It is the city that footed the bill for the basketball courts at a 105 000$ cost. This argument has been advanced by several citizens to justify reinstalling the baskets. The municipality said it has received six calls or messages to this effect.
Citizens Disappointed by City’s Decision
Constance Devouges, who lives on Viau Street and takes advantage of the facilities at Josaphat-Pitre Park with her four children is frustrated by the municipality’s decision.
“When they said that the basketball court would be taken down, the city told me that our kids can now go to the Gérin-Lajoie school or the Billings field. It didn’t really help my situation because I always go to the park with my full family and at Gérin-Lajoie and Billings, there is nothing for my younger ones [no play structures].”
Ms. Devouges said she understood that people living in Châteauguay’s other districts use the basketball courts as there aren’t many of them in the city. She admits having seen garbage on the ground, “but not to a point that would justify the nets’ removal” and she says she has not seen any drug use.
Constance Devouges also denies having been bothered by the noise. According to her while there is sometimes music, it isn’t too loud and the children’s park is far enough away from the courts. She says that the noise in the park comes from the day camps and schools that bring children there in the summer.
According to the City of Châteauguay, the Police Department has intervened on several occasions following complaints from neighbors.
"It is important to note that there are no violent crimes committed in our parks nor any issues related to street gang activity in our territory," explains Stéphanie Gosselin, Director of Communications and Public Relations. This is a matter of sharing space and ensuring the neighborhood’s tranquility."