Why should Dufferin Grove Park have local (staff and community) governance (a "conservancy")?

A true-life egg hunt story, sent by Amy Withers, local Dufferin Grove part-time staff from 2003 to 2012, member of CUPE Local 79, shop steward and unit officer for part-time rec workers during that time

THE STORY WHEN THERE'S NO CONSERVANCY

A group of neighbours want to run a neighbourhood easter egg hunt at the park.

- They go to the park and ask what to do

- They are told to contact the Community Recreation Programmer (CRP), who takes 1 week to get back to them.

- They are told by the CRP to get a permit. The permit office wants insurance since the expected attendance is uncertain but above the 20-person cut off. A neighbour decides to pay the insurance and the event goes ahead.

- On the day of the easter egg hunt the washrooms are closed since it is between seasons. The group has no contact info except the permit office and the CRP, who don't work on weekends. The part-time site staff aren't scheduled until noon. The garbages are overflowing, the picnic tables are flipped on their sides and in the wrong places. The current homeless person who's staying in the park rain shelter near the permitted location of the easter egg hunt is upset and yells at them. No one knows him, and eventually the group shifts their whole set-up to avoid him.

- The litter hasn't been picked up in the gardens or the playground nearby, so hiding easter eggs seems kind of gross among sodden trash.

- The group can't find electricity for their sound system and when they do, they don't have a long enough extension cord. So they run over to mall and buy one. They forgot to pack freezer packs for milk to go with coffee (they rented urns). So they buy ice. They can't borrow folding tables since the staff aren't at work yet and might not let them anyway.

But all neighbourhood parties are fun, it just costs so much money, people hurt their backs moving heavy picnic tables and the organizer dropped one on their toe and who needs the aggravation!

So the group agrees never to do it again.

THE STORY WHEN THERE'S A CONSERVANCY (local governance)

- Less "red tape" - lower or non-existent permit and insurance costs -- when an event is booked with on site staff they assure it is free, and neighbourhood-based.

- Park is clean: garbage bags are changed, trash has been picked up

- Lower costs: staff have helped the group with some event basics so they buy less. (The group can borrow a canopy, extension cords, coolers, coffee urns, ice packs)

- No back problems: picnic tables are moved using the park's dolly

- Friendly atmosphere: staff are on site during the whole time of the event including set-up, to trouble-shoot, get washrooms open

- Support for surprises: staff have a relationship with any local homeless person, they warn them ahead of time and remind them of the event. The person is more likely to welcome a chat with coffee and cookie, so the egg hunt space can stay in the playground.