Food bank’s plan for Central Park space doesn’t make sense

By Letter to the Editor on October 21, 2019.

The idea of turning Central Park School into an expanded food bank is an idea that is stupid beyond comprehension.

I haven’t heard anything so dumb since our mayor told national media that Medicine Hat had become the first city to eliminate homelessness. Homelessness is in fact increasing in Medicine Hat because homeless persons, through the hobo pipeline, hear that if they get to the Hat they will get a free house. I have been told this first-hand.

This has brought increased squatters and vagrants who congregate near the food bank. The SE Hill escarpment became the area of choice to these squatters because it is closest to the food bank. With this came, discarded drug paraphernalia, needles, garbage, trespassing and theft on private property on the SE Hill.

Project the above to the Central Park School location. Two elementary schools and a high school within a few blocks distance. Central Park directly across the street which undoubtedly will become a magnet for vagrants, cardboard lean-tos, garbage, and discarded drug needles. Real estate values on SE/SW Hill houses will drop because fewer buyers will want to live in the area. I have a few suggestions.

No. 1: Maybe the mayor, or councillors would kindly put this problem in their neighbourhood. You know that will never happen! Heaven forbid!

No. 2: Give the old Maple Avenue Fire Station to the food bank. At least it is then in a commercial district and near the police station.

No. 3: Pay the school board for the land, demolish the present structure at Central Park School, and service the land for residential housing. These prime lots would sell in a heartbeat. The city would receive ongoing tax monies and develop infill land that is a goal of council.

No. 4: Ask the Parks Department and the police department if they are in favour of moving the food bank next to Central Park because they will have the pleasure of cleaning up the mess the vagrants will make in the park and surrounding area.

Putting the food bank with all that entails into a quiet residential area just doesn’t make sense. Surely a better location can be found.