Councillor Asks What Is Being Done To Clean Crescent Park Of Discarded Bedding/Clothing As Well As Drug Paraphernalia

By Robert Thomas

How the City of Moose Jaw keeps Crescent Park clean was front row and center when a Councillor asked about what is being done.

During the Enquiries to Administration portion of Council’s regular meeting on Monday afternoon Councillor Kim Robinson asked a question about how Crescent Park is cleaned up when it comes to people sleeping or doing narcotics there.

Councillor Robinson said the question came from a citizen asking what sort of crews does the City employ to inspect and remove abandoned clothing, bedding and drug paraphernalia from Crescent Park.

Crescent Park has become notorious with intravenous drug users as a place to congregate and use illicit narcotics especially in the area around the Moose Jaw Public Library and Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery.

The area around the Moose Jaw Public Library was identified as an area where there has been discarded clothing and bedding as well as drug paraphernalia - MJ Independent file photo

In response to concerns the Moose Jaw City Police has instituted regular foot and bicycle patrols in Crescent Park.

“I was sent pictures and there is a lot of it in and around the (Moose Jaw Public) Library and I’m just wondering if we have resources or crews…to deal with that?” Councillor Robinson asked.

Responding to the Councillor’s concerns director of Parks and Recreation Derek Blais said there is staff performing cleaning duties to remove the items listed.

“In regards to Crescent Park we do have staff whose daily procedure is to do a whole sweep of the Park to pick up garbage or anything like that,” Blais responded.

“I can follow up to make sure that is being done,” he said.

Councillor Robinson asked if the daily cleaning sweeps by City staff included the removal of discarded bedding and clothing.

“It should be,” Blais replied.