City parks are a valued asset
By Letter to the Editor on October 6, 2021.
Editor:
Since March 2020, we’ve had record use of our parks. While nearly everything rec was shut down during the COVID-19 lockdowns, our parks system has been our crutch. It has delivered on health and wellness and our connection to the outdoors.
We must continue to find ways in making it more accessible. Areas of focus would be the interconnected trail system. Ideally, we should be able to navigate through all three areas of the city (north, south and west) through the trail system.
Having them interconnected provides a multimodal network of alternative transportation. One initiative that I would like to consider is a pedestrian/bike bridge on the south end of the west side that crosses the river and connects to the south side. I would pursue both Provincial and Federal grants to make this become reality in our community.
Partnering and collaborating with groups such as the Lethbridge Trail Alliance (LTA), Southern Alberta Group for the Environment (SAGE) and others will help projects such as singletrack trails, and aid in greater stewardship of our amazing river bottom. This type of partnership would be symbiotic with the community, environment, and users.
 There are four off leash dog parks in the City. Peenaquim Park on the Northside, Scenic Drive Dog Run on the south side, Popson Park and the Riverstone Dog Park on the westside. These parks are great, and as a dog owner, I can appreciate the opportunity for off leash sessions for exercise and socialization. Another initiative that I would like to bring forward is adding some additional, easy to access, off leash dog runs to our community.
While I am not sure what this looks like as an end product., with community consultation I can vision smaller fenced in areas at our large parks or green spaces such as Nicholas Sheran, green space along 28th ST N, Redwood Park, perhaps somewhere in SouthBrook.
Easy to access, flat areas would be accessible to a diverse group of people needing to give their fur-babies some off leash fun.Â
 We need to put a value to our natural assets. It has been difficult to quantify the value of nature, but we need to make sure that we can preserve our natural spaces as they are not replaceable.
 Ryan Parker
Candidate for Lethbridge city council
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Lethbridge parks are a disgrace. Indian Battle Park has dead, decaying trees everywhere, waist-high weeds. An unsightly mess and a fire hazard.
Additionally, waist-high weeds on nearly every street boulevard, weeds, dead trees and uncut grass greet visitors to our city along Crowsnest Trail. And this has happened under your watch, Ryan.
The City Hall individual overseeing parks should be fired.
Oh, and Ryan, we don’t need to spend millions more on yet another bike trail.
“under your watch,Ryan” agree.
Agreed but you have neglected to mention unauthorized ATV usage in remote parks such as Alexander Wilderness and continuing coulee and some game trail degradation by unauthorized mountain bikes in multiple locations. Despite request for better signage throughout the park system in the river valley , beginning over 4 years ago, very little has been done – other than designating some areas as “bike trials”. More , much more needs to be done. All talk and no action.
Yes,”all talk and no action”.
I believe Ryan Parker has done this before- gotten his free campaign plug with a letter to the editor. Why now Parker? Why no public comments about this before? Where were you when the Northside Park, Peenaquim was being squeezed without any consultation even with council?
I have to agree despite my comment above. Flagrant electioneering. Reminds me of a one time mayoral candidate (or was it alderman?) who, weeks before an election , wrote letters supporting or not, various causes. It was pretty obvious back then as it is now.