A Maple Ridge resident is hoping to put pressure on the City of Maple Ridge to pave the parking lot at the Albion Sportsfields.
Klara Sinclair started a petition, claiming that as a homeowner living by the Albion Sports Complex, on the east border of the grounds, that she is constantly battling dust on her property.
Sinclair said it is not only her – her neighbours’ vehicles, homes, and outdoor furniture are also perpetually covered in a layer of dust from the gravel lots.
“There’s a lot of tournaments, ball tournaments that go on. They had BC Games last year and they put in those (beach) volleyball nets,” she said, noting there are other events where the lot is needed for parking, including Caribbean Fest and Country Fest.
“It’s to the point where we will power wash in the spring, and a couple of weeks later there’s a light dust or so. You know, within a month, it’s almost like we haven’t even power washed,” she said, noting they can’t keep their furniture clean, the exterior of their houses clean, and there is no point in getting a car wash when in two days it will be dirty again.
Is not only about cleanliness, there is also a health issue, she said.
“Those among us with respiratory issues find it increasingly difficult to breathe during bouts of dry weather when dust levels rise significantly,” explained Sinclair on the online petition page.
The lot is located on 104 Avenue, just west of 105 Avenue, and Sinclair’s home is about another half block east of 105 Avenue.
“I’ve had it where some days in August,, if there is a lot of activity going on in the parking lot, you almost can’t see through the cloud of dust where the gates are that go into the ball park parking. It’s that bad,” she said, noting there is a lot more activity going on at the grounds than there was eight years ago when she moved to the area.
Her petition, which she started around three months ago, just before the Ridge Meadows Home show, shows 250 supporters so far.
Sinclair is hoping to eventually bring it to city council to see if she can get the lot paved.
Anyone interested in signing Sinclair’s petition can go to: https://www.change.org/, and search Maple Ridge, BC.