Liz Monteiro
RECORD STAFF
Of course, there are supporters who like the space.
Peter Gravel, who works for a Kitchener insurance company, came out to the square on his lunch break for the first time yesterday.
He brought his 18-year-old son’s six-string acoustic guitar to try out the free noon-hour guitar lessons.
And even though the instructor was nowhere to be found 15 minutes into the lesson, Gravel wasn’t deterred.
“I drive by here every day when I go to work. I love the concept. I love that it’s open with an open-air walking plaza,” he said.
Gravel, like others who were out enjoying the sunshine yesterday, said the square is new and the community needs to give it a chance.
So what about the artistic bell created by sculptor Royden Rabinowtich? Earlier this week, vandals drew on the bell.
“Oh, you mean the rust bucket. I’m curious about it,” Gravel said.
Yesterday, children at a camp with the Waterloo Community Arts Centre were drawing with chalk on the concrete ground in the square. A couple of boys took a fancy to the bell and drew pictures on it.
Doris Bechtel wonders about the bell, too.
“Well, I don’t know. That’s a big question mark,” she said. “It doesn’t seem to fit it.”
Bechtel, who walks through the square about three times a week on her way to the grocery store, said she wishes there were bigger trees and more shade in the square.
“I thought it was going to be more green, but I’m willing to give them a chance. It’s so new,” she said.
When it comes to the skateboarders and the controversy the activity has brought to the square, Bechtel said she isn’t annoyed by the youth and their boards.
“They are kids and they are busy,” she said. “Kicking them out isn’t fair.”
Jessica Wever, who works at the Matter of Taste coffee shop in the mall, said she often sits on the concrete steps to people-watch and glancing over at the skateboarders.
“I like that they are here. I come out to watch them,” she said.
Wever said she hopes the skateboarders can remain in the square in their designated spot.
“It’s just kids having fun. It’s fun in a healthy way.”
Jeff Stuart, who often skateboards at the square, said designating an area is a fair compromise.
Stuart said some “reckless” teens have grinded their skateboards on the steps and damaged the concrete “giving a bad rap for everyone.”
The fate of the skateboarders will be decided at a council meeting Monday night.
City staff are recommending that the sanctioned off area for boarders remain in place.
“It still has value,” said Smith, who is suggesting enforcement be increased to ensure the skateboarders follow the rules.
If the skateboarders don’t abide by the rules, they will be asked to leave and won’t be able to return, he said.
Smith said the square is a project that will continue to evolve.
At least one councillor, Scott Witmer who has received “a healthy dozen” emails on the issue of skateboarders in the square, said he won’t be supporting the staff recommendation.
“I just don’t think it’s the right location,” he said.
Witmer agrees that the square is a work in progress. The skating rink should be installed — “the sooner, the better.”
Last year, council voted to go ahead with the public square without the skating rink and the water wall because there wasn’t enough money to fund them.
