The Citizen printed an article about a new slough path for Prince George, but they don't take care of the paths already there. I live on Oak St. right next door to the slough and walk my dog daily between Victoria St. and the paths leading towards Queensway. During the past several months I had telephoned City Hall to report that several shopping carts as well as a large bedspring and mattress had been tossed into the slough last fall and were still there.
Finally this past Friday, the utility department came and managed to pull out the mattress, five shopping carts and two strollers and several other questionable items. People's attitudes about this beautiful asset need to change from that of a "local dumping spot" to an area that we are grateful that we have. Living back in this area I've been fortunate to see beaver swimming in the water as well as wood ducks and their young making the slough their home. However, I've also noticed condom wrappers, syringe wrappers and water containers from drug use along the pathways, as well as discarded motor oil containers, a broken skateboard and "other garbage collecting in the water against the bridges, which hinder the local wildlife from being able to swim through the water from one end to the other. I also wonder why there is only one "Hide a Bag" garbage container along the pathway from Victoria Street through to Oak Street.. I am quite sure that if there were more container properly bolted down they would be used
We need to ask ourselves if we are "a resident or citizen of Prince George?" and what is my personal responsibility when it comes to doing our part in taking care of its natural assets and stop and pick up that empty cup or piece of paper that someone else threw away?. As a person with a physical disability forced to walk with a walking stick, I still try and pick up what I can when walking my dog and manage to clean up after him. Perhaps we also need to call the city on their responsibilities to our existing parks and waterways before thinking about spending more money when our tax dollar is being stretched to its limit already.
Barbara Mallett
Prince George
