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
This article appears in Oct 3-9, 2019.
“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.”
We do, dummy. The Commons. We even have two of them. There’s more rules at the Gardens, sure, but that’s why it’s more or less pristine, lacking in trash and dog shit. The fact that you’d take the time to write this instead of walking literally two blocks away to our -massive- grassy area that exists just so your dumb kid can enjoy it shows your entitlement.
There is a part of public gardens near the corner of SGR and Summer which has a grassed area to sit/play on, multiple park benches etc.
Or – , if you go to the corner of SGR and South Park, there is an exit. If you leave the Park from that exit, cross SGR, you will be in Victoria Park.
Or – if you go to the entrance at South Park and Sackville, you will be kitty corner to Citadel Hill.
All of these options are 50 meters or less from Public Gardens.
A lot of people enjoy the pristine mow jobs, and the rare plants and vegetation, which would be put at risk if our entitled population were given free reign to roam as they please on our Victorian Era Gardens.
I know… I just wanted to enjoy my swim at Peggy’s Cove but people kept telling me to get out of the water and off the black rocks because I ignored the signs… party poopers.
Kids deserve to be able to learn and play in nature but you can easily find a green space on Halifax within walking distance to the gardens where kids can play and climb on things.
Think of the gardens as a nature museum. You wouldnt bitch about a museum employee telling you that your kids cant play on the displays or touch the exhibits, thats exactly whats up here. Sit in the picnic area or take your kids to the commons.
I agree. That place got too many rules. Better off goin to the commons to get ripped on paper bag licker