Can We Improve on Erindale Park?
Published August 24, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Groups of people gathered around scattered BBQs, eating at picnic tables, laying on large blankets thrown on the grass, kicking a soccer ball, enjoying the Credit River, fishing for aquatic life they can’t eat and enjoying the pathways — welcome to Erindale Park! You can enjoy it if you’re lucky enough to get a parking spot on any summer weekend when it isn’t raining.
After dragging my feet there and leaving after a walk through the graveled trail – by the way, wear closed-toed shoes if you hate that dusty feeling on your feet – I thought to myself, “why don’t I love coming here? Is it because I’m not here with my extended family, enjoying a BBQ?” Although food does make me happy, that wasn’t the answer. The answer came shortly after I needed a restroom and found myself at the glorified port-o-let that smelled like a urine sauna.
The park — especially one its size — needs decent public restrooms.
It recently dawned on me that Erindale Park does not have a draw. Aside from the location and setting (it’s right beside the Credit River), there’s not much there. Think of some attractions at other large parks: fountains, splash pads, baseball diamonds/soccer fields, recreation centres, skate parks, zoos, botanical gardens, cafés, strategically planted flowers/bushes/shrubs, skating rinks, outdoor/indoor pools, etc. Erindale Park has exactly zero items from this list. Sounds harsh, but it’s true. And it’s been a while since I’ve sat on their swing set, but if I were a child, I would be thoroughly disappointed with it. It’s very basic and not updated in the least.
Other than cutting the grass and perhaps removing the occasional dead tree, it’s hard to see where tax dollars go to maintain this potential jewel of the city. As a lifelong resident of Mississauga, I honestly don’t recall any changes or improvements to this public green space. As a person who enjoys her chill time, I equate Erindale to be that old dog who waits for you at home while you take the brand new puppy to Celebration Square, Port Credit or downtown. As a realtor, I see endless potential that just isn’t being cultivated, sort of like one of those million dollar homes where the lawn is unkempt and goes brown and brittle.
So aside from the public restroom situation, what addition would you love to see at Erindale Park? Or would you apply the old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?
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