Snow removal, just another complaint about the inefficiency of this work in the City of Pickering….
Hello Mayor Ashe
My name is Steven Sattz and I reside at 1029 Sherman Crescent, Pickering. I have lived in this city for the past 39 years.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 10:00am, I chaired a community meeting in Lynn Heights Park in regard to my ongoing fight to have SNOW REMOVAL COMPLETED in the park during the winter months.
In attendance were the following:
- Councilor Mara Nagy
- Dan Finn – Manager Parks & Recreation
- Along with over 60 community members.
(Trust me if this would have been at the evening or on a weekend, I would have had hundreds of people out)
Geographically, I would like to give you what Lynn Heights Park surrounds:
To the west – Alanbury Crescent
To the north – Sherman Crescent
To the east – Lynn Heights Drive along with ALL the adjoining streets
I do not have an exact population number but there are easily over a thousand people who live in the immediate vicinity surrounding Lynn Heights Park.
HISTORY BEHIND MY FIGHT
Lynn Heights Park has been in existence for the past 39 years.
The concrete catwalk from Sherman Crescent into the park has been in existence for the past 38 years. This pathway runs for approximately 200’ and had stopped at the grassed area leading into the park.
7 years ago, an asphalt pathway was put into the park by the city at a cost of $120,000 of taxpayer money.
At the completion of this project, I canvassed city staff and was assured, no I was promised, the path would be receiving proper winter maintenance.
After 2 winters of no snow removal, I started my fight to have this done. This was 5 years ago.
The following councillors had/have been extremely supportive towards my cause:
- Retired Councilor Bill McLean
- Councilor Mara Nagy
- Councilor Maurice Bremnar
- Regional Councilor Linda Cook
I have heard that Councilor Shaheen Butt has come on board to also give their support.
At the same time when the asphalt pathway was put into Lynn Heights Park, a new asphalt pathway at a cost of $80,000 was also put in beside the fire hall on Finch Avenue. This pathway runs south off of Finch Avenue towards Lydia Crescent. The population in this area is significantly less than that in my neighbourhood. To my surprise, this new pathway received snow clearing maintenance on the first winter. Why them and not us?
The pathway in Lynn Heights Park during the winter can be extremely DANGEROUS and TREACHEROUS with all of its DEEP SNOW, RUTS and UNEVEN TERRAIN. This does not need to be like this. There is absolutely no reason why this pathway should not be cleared.
We had residents at this meeting who had unfortunately slipped and fallen while walking in the park on the unplowed, unsafe surface. This is totally unacceptable. Nobody deserves to be injured.
It is so frustrating to see the following sign posted:
“NO WINTER MAINTENANCE ON WALKWAY. USE AT OWN RISK”
Taxpayers are livid when they read this sign.
When there was just grass in the park, it was a park. Now that there is a pathway, it is now a continuation of the sidewalk and should be considered as such.
The city sidewalk snow clearing machine clears the sidewalk right in front of the park on Lynn Heights Drive so it would be right there to clear the park pathway. I feel it could be completed in no more than 5 to 7 minutes.
Mr. Mayor
This pathway is constantly used 365 days a year by residents:
- GOING TO WORK
- GOING TO SCHOOL
- GOING TO CITY TRANSIT
- GOING SHOPPING
- EXERCISING
- WALKING THEIR PETS
- PARENTS TAKING THEIR CHILDREN INTO THE PARK TO PLAY
And so on.
My proposal to the city:
I would like to propose that 6 city parks, including Lynn Heights park, go on a 2 year pilot project of snow removal to see how effective it is. I feel so strong today in saying that this project will be a complete success and will continue.
The taxpayers in my neighbourhood hope you will support their cause in having the snow removed from Lynn Heights Park, their park.
I can assure you that 100% of the residents support this request. Not one person said ‘NO’.
I thank you for your time.
Steven Sattz
