Cochrane Pond occupants organize clean up day to save their park
Park owner Clifford Petten to be seen in court on June 4
Cochrane Pond Park occupants don't want to see the camp ground close up shop. So, they're taking matters into their own hands to clean things up.
"We're trying to get the park cleaned up so we can get it opened up so we can continue camping," said Bill Lush, who has been going to the park every weekend for four years. "We love this place."
Since the order to vacate was issued by the city on April 16 campground residents have become divided. Some are frustrated and want to leave, others want to keep their community together.
On April 26, campers organized their own park clean up. They brought in large dumpsters to clear out waste from abandoned campsites.
Campers worked all day to improve the park, including widening and flattening the bumpy dirt roads.
"Our goal is to get this as clean as we can possibly get it," said Lush, adding that the roads to be better to allow emergency vehicles in.
Lush said the ultimate goal is to get the park to a point where it can reopen.
In a statement, city of St. John's communications manager Jackie O'Brien said the city is aware that some users are not complying with the order to vacate, but they won't be forcing people to leave.
But, failure to comply with council's director or deficiency notices "may result in additional charges being laid against the licensee or occupants," wrote O'Brien.
The park is leased by a private company owned by Clifford Petten. His son Jeff Petten represented the company in court last week, facing charges of safety breaches. They will be back in court June 4.
CBC called park operator Jeff Petten, but he declined an interview.
Despite the eviction notice and charges against park owners, Lush is hopeful it will remain open. He said the city just needs to give them time to do the work needed.
"Give the campers time. We're not the owners, we're the campers. We're the ones that actually love this park," he said.
While they weren't the people who caused problems in the park, Lush says he and his neighbours want to be the ones to fix it.
He said there are about 15 sites that are the problem, a lot of them abandoned and overgrown.
Lush said he knows the campground has a reputation for having issues, but that he still loves the park regardless.
In the meantime, he says a lot more work needs to be done to clean everything up.
"We're gonna need a lot more dumpsters," he said.
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