This public space is beautiful and useless. There are so many rules (and employees reminding you of them) that it is impossible to enjoy being there. The buses of tourists and the odd local might find it lovely to stroll the pathways for five minutes, but not me. While watching my child experience pure joy in observing a duck and walking on a small patch of grass (yup, just some GRASS), I was told that this was not an area for play and that the family lawn was on the other side of the park (where there are no ducks and only an unshaded small field). I was also told during another visit that you're not allowed to WALK your bike through the park (just in case the busloads of tourists don't have enough path space and may have to step on a few blades of grass).

Just imagine a park in the middle of the city where you can sit on the ground and picnic, play with your family, be encouraged to use alternative transportation (bikes), experience beautiful gardens, and spend some time breathing in the fresh air and feeling better about your day, without the worry of breaking the rules by being comfortable. I bet the benefits would far outweigh any damage to pristine mow jobs. Wouldn't you use that space more?
—Just A Person Trying To Enjoy My City

Dear HRM politicians and staff: The Willow Tree intersection at Robie and Quinpool needs a roundabout! Having five streets with stop lights makes for a complete nightmare. Fix this.
—Midnight Idler

Maybe it's because I'm educated, professionally employed or maybe, it's because I've been smoking pot for 40 years...but does anyone else find that the hype building up to the legalization of recreational cannabis equates to a chicken just had its head cut off?

It seems to play into a scene out of Reefer Madness. Any of them, really. Rather than our three governments putting a positive spin on it (economics alone) they are taking a heavy-handed approach to the issue which only incites the ire of the law's opponents (crackpots will be handing out copies of Reefer Madness soon). I've signed up with a compassionate access club which will have competitive or undercut pricing. I'm taking a stand against this poorly-written legislation and supporting our local economy in a different way. —Jimmy Takes A Hit

The province of Nova Scotia is clearcutting our forests and burning them for energy.  It is basically a giant bonfire. It's not a physically efficient means of producing energy. It's not economical. The plants that do this are even subsidized by the government.  They are calling it "biomass" and a "renewable energy" source. On the books this non-renewable completely senseless waste is considered renewable energy. We should hold them accountable. —Tree Hugger

I'm sorry but how is the Ecology Action Centre membership magazine a responsible contribution to our environment? Eight-plus colour printing with photos? Trucking and labour to get these things in the mailbox? Really?

Love the “NO FLYERS” mailbox stickers you guys give out though. —Trees R US

Hey you! You know who you are! You're the guy using the ocean for an ashtray! I watched you gazing out into the scenery, and suddenly, without giving it a second thought, you flicked your butt into the water at the ferry wharf!  Argh! WTF! Since when has that been acceptable? Keep your bad habits to yourself and out of MY environment! —The Cinster

We welcome everyone to have a bit of “craic” this St Patrick's Day and will politely acknowledge how your great-great grandfather's goldfish was Irish, but please, for the love of jaysus, it's Paddy NEVER Patty! Yes of course I'm sure, since I was, y'know, born and raised there for feck's sake…Sláinte. —Frustrated Ulsterman Correcting Knowledge

So awful that there is a ridiculous amount of plastic along our beaches from the inside of shotgun shells. These little pieces of cushion are all over the shoreline. Am I really the only one that has noticed or cares about this? Really, not one MLA or government official has pushed to ask the range to clean up the waste that's clearly coming from their customers? —Captain Planet

Who decided that Griffin Pond in the Public Gardens should be infested with ugly plants and eternal scum? This pond used to be lovely relatively clear body of water. Now it's a sludge pit of slime. Brilliant. —A Griffin Pond Lover