Different Kind Of Wildlife!

Last week I brought my two toddlers to Mission Creek Park. I entered the park from the lights at Leckie and saw a park worker there, busily whacking weeds and minding his own business. I approached him to ask if it was safe to access the small network of trails that exist along the irrigation channel (found at the entrance to the park on Leckie and winding through the "bush" between the kid's park along the irrigation channel to the Ziprick Road entrance.) I feared wildlife - cougars, bears - it's that time of year (spring) and they have been spotted in the park before.

He grinned at my naivety and assured me that those kind of wildlife were found higher up in the park, further away from the areas people frequent. He did, however, warn me about another kind of "wildlife" found in those little trails - mainly the two-legged variety that live and roam in said area between Ziprick and Leckie. He advised it wasn't a good idea to take my kids through those little trails because he wouldn't want us stumbling across them and "seeing something we shouldn't..." Now that leaves it pretty open to interpretation but some of the images that my mind conjured up over that statement ensures that I will NEVER take my children to that area of the park again.

I feel I should warn others about it, especially in light of the recent attempted sexual assault (which occurred on the greenway itself, across from the network of trails and dense underbrush between Ziprick and Leckie as mentioned above). Obviously the park workers are aware of people lurking in said area so why shouldn't the general public know? I have tried contacting the regional district's park manager regarding this matter but have not had my calls returned.

It's apparent that everyone simply relocated to this area of the park from the former "Camp Purgatory", which now is the cleared field across from Bristol Gardens. I wonder what new moniker has been given to this area?

D.W.