Great public bench dance of Aylmer

Some places get ‘em, some loose ‘em

A series of fences just south-east of the Front and Brook Streets intersection were removed by Gatineau City because workers deemed they were in a state of advanced disrepair. However, new fences have not yet materialized. Seating was also removed mid-September from this busy shadded green space, across from the neighbourhood’s only corner store and along a busy walkway.

The fences were installed prior to the municipal merger in the little green space bearing no name and owned by the city. “They were installed there because a former rail track passed there,” noted a city spokesperson.

One anonymous Aylmer resident noticed their removal and worries that a previous phenomenon could repeat itself at that location.

“Before the creation of this green space and the installation of the fences, many vehicles passed over the asphalt edge to park. We find the same type of fences on Arthur-Croteau and Raoul-Roy, near Parc des Cèdres and on the limits of many green spaces in Ward 1 (Aylmer). They clearly serve to delimit the areas and prevent drivers from crossing the boundary,” noted the resident.

The Aylmerite argued that the removed fences were not more worn out than other ones in Aylmer and wondered if the city had a plan to build a barrier to prevent drivers from parking their vehicle in the green space where the train tracks were years ago. The city said they have planted trees there and intend to plant more next summer.