Oh no - City considers moving the little train

At Monday night's meeting of Sault Ste. Marie City Council, councillors will consider the following letter from Pat McAuley, the Sault's commissioner of public works and transportation.

The agenda contains a motion calling for the City's Public Works and Transportation Committee to review whether the little train engine in Bellevue Park has any historical significance and whether it should be moved to some other location:

************************** Mayor John Rowswell and members of Council

SUBJECT: BELLEVUE PARK LOCOMOTIVE

As Council is aware, the small locomotive located next to the children's play area has been deemed unsafe by our insurance carrier, and the City has been told it should not be used as a piece of children's play apparatus.

As a result, the locomotive has been fenced off with snow fencing, since May 2006. Over the past year staff has attempted to find funds to repaint it, landscape around it, and fence it off with a high quality fence that would prevent people from climbing on it.

To date, we have not been successful in obtaining funds through the City's budget process nor with corporate donations.

In addition, staff has also raised the following questions:

1. Is there any historical significance remaining with the locomotive, given that it has been gutted of its interior equipment, and has been altered significantly?

2. Should it remain next to the children's play area if it can no longer be played on?

3. If it does have historical significance, representing our industrial past, is there a more appropriate location for it?

Accordingly, staff recommends council refer this to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) and ask for their review and recommendations on what should be done with this locomotive.

All of which is respectfully submitted

Patrick M. McAuley, P Eng. Commissioner Public Works and Transportation Department

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