This is why we can’t have nice things

Re Skateboarders asked to keep wheels off

Berczy Park, June 28 I live across the street from Toronto’s magnificent new Berczy Park. From my living room seven floors up I watched it being rebuilt for 18 months, admiring the workmanship and attention to detail. The men and women working on this project put their hearts into it.

But now I’m shocked and sickened at how many thoughtless people fail to appreciate Toronto’s new showpiece. It’s not just the cigarettes, which people seem to think are biodegradable, or the coffee cups or food wrappers. I pick those up every day while walking my dog, as do others. But the skateboarder issue is real. I watched last week as a tall young man on a skateboard intentionally launched his board multiple times into one of the ceramic dog’s torsos. I was standing with the head of the Friends of Berczy Park; she was also walking her dogs and witnessed it. We asked him to stop. He smiled, and reloaded, smashing a second time into the side of the dog. When I got out my camera and said I was phoning the police, he left. We inspected the dog, and it was chipped from his “trick.” I’ve watched the boarders every day, leading up to the opening, mark up benches, wooden structures, the fountain and the mirrored electrical box.

I note that Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook of the TPS, 51 Division says that they have had no complaints. This is just not true. I have phoned multiple times. They tell me they can’t deal with it, but to call the general dispatch number of the TPS. Dispatch says they are too busy.

This is why Toronto can’t have nice things.

Harry Fine, Toronto