Bob Mackin News Reporter THIS is a story about the needle and the damage done. The setting is Greenwood Park in’ North Vancouver Ci ity Area resident Andrew MacDonald says the Hi-heetare forest and ex-quarry is an endan- gered gem. He says it has become a dumping ground for garbage and stolen goods, and a haven for drug: users, He says it’s time for the city to save this “diamond in the rough.” “The neighbors are afraid to come in and they don’t want to walk in this mess,” said MacDonald, who would like to use the park more often with his wite Helen and baby Frances. “It’s one area in the city that you can get Getaway dent fights to save Sunday. April 25. 1999 - North Shore News — V Garbage, drug-users despoiling Greenwood away from the city fights. You've got, on a clear night, a better look at the stars than you're going to get in this area of North Vaneouver.” The park is bounded by Ridgeway Avenue onthe west, 22nd Street on the south and the Upper Levels Highway to the north and cast. Grand Boulevard crosses the southwestern por: tion, while Queensbury Avenue ends with a cul de sag near a former gravel pit at the park's southeast corner. MacDonald said the noise from the highway appears to be increasing, because trees are dis- appearing and there is no fence. MacDonald has co-ordinated neighbor- hood cleanups of the park, but the problem seems to be getting worse. If police stepped up patrols and the city’s parks department took a said that Allan “lacks the con- greater interest in maintenance, more public use would be encouraged, he said. That would greatly diminish the tree cutting, trash-dump- ing and drug using. A News? reporter toured Greenwood Park Wednesday atiernoon with MacDonaid. Some of the items found on the nordy side near a makeshift mountain biking circuit and polluted stream include: a used hypodermic needle and syringe; empty medication bottles; Safeway pharmacy bag; a Paddington bear cookie tin used to store drag paraphernalia, and a hockey equipment bag with gloves and pads. Graffiti covers a rock wall popular with climbers at the ex-quarry, At its base are the remnants of shattered beer and pop bottles, cut cedar trees and burned refuse. As many as 16 ity park trees had been cut atthe top arthe rocknice. - circle of stumps was) surrounded by eh woodchips. Handsworth secondary physical education teacher Michel Leveitle was atthe park with his Grade 12 class on Wednesday, using the rock- face fer a mountain climbing exercise. He wort det his students read the gratfiti, he joked. “We've been coming here for over 20 years now. It’s basically about the same, exeept for these trees,” “he said, pointing to a pile af cut cedars, “Every time we come, there's soot all over the phee. They have fires up there.” City parks and engineering manager Bill Granger said he will look into MacDonald” fy complaint. “It's not an urban park, it’s not an area where we expect kids are going te be play- ing, burt ir still is a public park,” Granger said. “We need to be concerned about satery.” Cuff report key factor in decisi manager in the interim. car in WV THE getaway vehi- cle used in an April 12 Brink’s armed robbery was found in a commercial area of West Vancouver on Wednesday. Vancouver City Police Const. Anne Drennan said two suspects were arrested near the vehicle by the Vancouver Police’s Emergency See Men page 8 Response’ From page 1 mayor and council,” said Williams. “And that has led to a careful analysis of the admin- istration of the municipality and discussions with Mr. Allan concerning his role.” The Cuff report was edited by municipal solicitors before public release to remove state- ments identifving municipal staff members. It was then the subject of much community controver- sy. As a result, the issue sur- rounding Allan’s performance review simply refused to go away. In his report, George Caff fidence” of council and the administration, Senior municipal officials were notified of Allan’s release on Thursday — afternoon; nuunicipal staff were informed of the decision shortly there- after via email. “T wish co advise you that J. Douglas Allan, has lett the service of the municipality,” read the internal memo issued by Mayor Pat Boname. “Recruitment of a munici- pal manager co fill the vacancy will commence immediately.” Yo date, personnel agen- cies have assisted in) the recruitment of candidates for various municipal positions, including the finance. John Pollitt, acting diree- tor of operations, has agreed to serve as acting municipal FACTORY FUTON Entrance in rear lane director of human resources, director of operations and director of Hon.- Sat. 1l-Gpm Sunday le-$ pm Allan was appointed man- ager in 1991. He has served with the municipality tor over 22 vears. Allan and Boname were unavailable for comment. to press time Friday. 99 caNPane Obl. $ 3 g 9 silo Includes. solid pine sofa ted frame. triple foam core fotun, scotch-garted Falun coves, pillows and pitaey cavers. Wide quantities lest 267 €. Ist. 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