No end in sight

The past 12 months have witnessed a classic confrontation — a clash of wills primarily between the City's planning department and the residents who live near Westmount Park. And for those who began rallying the troops to fight City Hall around this time last year, their greatest fear — of seeing their beloved park covered in hot, sticky and dirty artificial turf — is no closer to becoming a reality than it was back then. In fact, the City has actually decided against the artificial turf option.

So why are the wagons still in a circle?

Now the argument has come down to a matter of fences and other less apparent modifications to the park's physical appearance. The fences, which the City wants to install in order to help save wear and tear on the admittedly fragile natural grass surface of the playing fields, are widely expected to restrict easy access for a number of people, including the students of Westmount Park School.

Just like many other bureaucratic administrations, the City of Westmount can be a formidable foe for anyone who decides to pick up a sword and stand up for a cause. Just look back at its skirmishes over the years with various groups and individuals doing battle over issues from train station townhouses and parking aprons to the more recent so-called Summit Lookout "chainsaw massacre," not to mention dozens of minor run-ins with individual residents, and there emerges a distinct pattern with a positive message: Yes, you can fight City Hall, and you can win — but be prepared for the fight of your life.

But the current controversy — and the one that refuses to go away — remains firmly rooted in the green spaces of Westmount Park. The City has backed down on the big issue and now wants to add a few features to the park. This raises a new question — how far will the City bend before it decides enough is enough and presses ahead with its plans, citizen opposition be damned?

Stay tuned on this one, folks. At this point, absolutely anything can happen!