I am spending a few posts at Lansdowne Park, and I'll be ranting and venting whilst here. Aside from a New Year's Eve visit, it has been a long while since I've photographed the place. OSEG (Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group), the group of real estate developers that pretty much got the place handed to them for their own benefit for the remainder of their natural lives (thanks a lot, city council) has been busy here, with most of the construction nearly done. Is it obvious I really dislike the fact that these swindlers pretty much stole what could have been so much better out from under the city? By the way, if OSEG happens to see this: from the bottom of my heart, I'll say it once again- middle finger fully extended at the lot of you no-good underhanded double-dealing crooks. If you guys were on fire, and I had a glass of water, I'd drink it.
Anyway, to start things off, we have one of the three things about the whole development that they got right. A portion of the place has been set aside as an actual park (go figure). While the skateboarding area and the playground are dormant this time of year, the skating rink is open. For those who might be peckish, a Beavertail hut is at the far end, along with another establishment.
Nice photo. Have some hot cocoa, William. 😉
ReplyDeleteRefuse to Despair and keep speaking truth
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
It is very skimpy sort of an after thought.
ReplyDeleteNot that it has to be Rockefeller Center but gosh this is Canada, winter central !
cheers, parsnip
You feel very angry, I think.
ReplyDeleteBut your photo is nice.
Wish you today a nice day.
Hugs
The rich and powerful seem to rule everywhere.
ReplyDeleteFollow the cold panorama ... as seen.
ReplyDeleteTomás.
The ice looks pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to learning more about why you dislike the developers of Lansdowne Park. Glad they got at least one thing right, though.
ReplyDeletei'm not a big fan of developers any way, go get 'em!
ReplyDelete@Linda: hot chocolate would be in order.
ReplyDelete@Cloudia: I'm sure OSEG wouldn't like that.
@Parsnip: yes, well, the developers probably spent as little as they could on the park and still get away with it.
@Orvokki: I would characterize it as disgusted, compared to what could have been done with the place. There was so much potential here, and now it's going to be nothing more than residential, big box stores, and the plaything of these developers.
@Stuart: such is the case here.
@Tomas: thanks!
@Marianne: ice surfaces like this do keep people skating while waiting for the Canal to open, or after it closes. As of yesterday the Canal is still open.
@EG: in this whole park, they got all of three things right: the park area, and two buildings. The rest is a desecration.
@Tanya: developers are overwhelmingly vermin.
Tell us how you really feel William :) Developers hey, what you going to do with them :) you know now that you mentioned the 'beavertails' I reeeeeally want one :)
ReplyDeletegonna enjoy your opinions on this place, i can tell. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Stuart...
ReplyDeleteThe skating rink is nice and o.k., but I would prefer the canal...
I don't skate and am not per se a fan of rinks, but I do love this photo, William. That having been said, I think I will make a nice cup of hot chocolate. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't skate anymore, but I used to do it a lot auntill about ten years ago. This nice ice rink seems to have the size which I could still handle ... ;-)
ReplyDelete@Grace: the next time I pick up a Beavertail, I'll have to make it an apple cinnamon one.
ReplyDelete@Tex: OSEG certainly wouldn't appreciate this!
@Karl: I think places like this are good for those who might find the Canal a bit overwhelming. Particularly with little ones.
@Linda: I like that the ice gives a bit of a reflection of the trees.
@Jan: it does get well used.
Developers aren't my favorite people either.
ReplyDeleteYes, developers influenced by and influencing councils...
DeleteThe ice looks to be in great shape!
ReplyDeleteThe last few attempts at spring skating. I do so hope.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of developer or the city/county people that play along with them. I worked at the county courthouse for awhile and saw a lot of stuff that I had lots of questions about. I tried and was left wanting.
ReplyDeleteI hope the skating rink is well used.
MB
The ice looks very OK.
ReplyDeleteI too am not a supporter of the mega rich developers. Right now, we have some older people being tossed out of their homes because developers want to bulldoze them for extended freeways. There seems to be no understanding or compassion. That said, this skating area does look quite attractive.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandson and his buddies are hockey fans and also themselves skated in teams. I used to watch them. Guys now are 18,19 they go at night at real late in New-market and it is a real pleasure to have one. At night they can play hockey and in day and afternoon for the smaller kids skate. Something like that. Has been not a problem. So if this is good. Then all the more to the rinks for public.
ReplyDeleteCity politics are always the same. People want a piece of the city for nothing and are pretty good at persuading incompetent councilors to let them have it.
ReplyDeleteThe other half of our blog would really enjoy this!
ReplyDeletePolitics... I'll be over at the other end then.
ReplyDeleteYou'd *love* what developers have done in California. It's called "zoning for dollars."
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely little ice rink!
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to break out my skates this year... maybe next year!
ReplyDelete@Denise: this particular brand are real scum.
ReplyDelete@RedPat: they might be able to keep it that way through the March Break. I read in the paper today that the Canal is now closed for skating for the season as of last night.
@Birdman: on here, it's still possible. How long that lasts is another story.
@MB: it was incredibly short sighted, and now there's nothing to be done about it.
@Marleen: it's also popular, that skating rink.
@Gemma: all developers seem to care about is how much more they can pad their bank accounts
@Carolann: there are a lot of rinks in neighbourhood parks set up just for that.
@Red: the irony is that the councillor whose ward this falls under never liked this project and argued against it, but he's the one who has to deal with the problems it presents, particularly in terms of traffic and noise.
@VP: good!
@Ciel: it's more venting at the developers than politics!
@Kay: that figures.
@Merisi: at least looking at it from this angle, I'm spared from looking at the stadium monstrosity.
@Halcyon: hopefully next year!
This is the first time I have ever seen the word "peckish" used on a City Daily Photo site. Seeing a word for the first time makes my day! Keep them coming, not to mention your fine photos and write-ups in general!
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
Politicians, if there's a good open space they just can't leave it be. Not sure though what a Beavertail hut is ?
ReplyDeletenever had a beavertail, but heard they were really good.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to try one of those Beavertails. I've seen pictures and they look so good. I'd enjoy sitting and watching the skaters, but my skating days are pretty much over I think!
ReplyDeleteAt least there are people enjoying the skating rink.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Linda - Hot chocolate.
ReplyDeletegood photo
ReplyDelete@Janis: it's a rather different word for hungry, so why not?
ReplyDelete@Geoff: a delicious- beyond delicious- pastry!
@Gill: they definitely are.
@Lois: my skating days never started.
@Mari: and for now, that's as much skating as they can get in, with the Canal shut down today.
@Linda: hot chocolate is good.
@Jen: thanks!
Nice way to spend the day.
ReplyDeleteIt is.
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