When Tony Paré decided to honour his in-laws, who were long-time Coquitlam residents, with a park bench he thought, like a cemetery headstone, he'd purchased the plaque that went with it in perpetuity. Turned out perpetuity had an expiry date.
Paré discovered that April 22 when he went took his kids to the bench in Como Lake Park — across the street from where his wife's parents were long-time land owners and residents — to connect with their grandparents and discovered the plaque had been removed.
"I purchased the memorial park bench in absolute good faith to honour my family who were lakeside pioneers," wrote Paré in a letter to the city.
He subsequently discovered, after contacting city hall, it would cost $400 to have the tribute renewed for 10 years.
The city changed its park gift program policy in 2015. When the tributes were first sold, said Coquitlam parks manager Kathleen Reinheimer, there was no description of what would happen at the end of a bench's lifespan.
"It wasn't explicit enough in the paperwork at the time," said Reinheimer.
But in the last few years many municipalities, including Coquitlam, have realized the practicalities of such a program needed refinement, and lifespan was an issue so they adopted renewal policies, said Reinheimer.
"A bench doesn't last forever," she said.
When the policy was changed, those who had purchased park gifts were notified, although getting a hold of every one of them was a challenge because many had relocated, said Reinheimer. She added the change "generated a lot of conversation" and there were some who were unhappy because they had made the same assumption as Paré.
"We can't honour that notion that it is in perpetuity," said Reinheimer.
Paré claims he was not contacted even though he still lives at the same address as the day he purchased the bench (April 2, 1998). He said the city should have grandfathered the plaques purchased prior to the policy change.
"This is outright blackmail and about as low as low can get," wrote Paré. "It's just a money grab from those councillors who have no conscience or respect for the citizens of Coquitlam who have passed on and also to their surviving family members."
According to Reinheimer, if Paré pays the $400 for the 10-year renewal, but the bench needs to be replaced down the road, the city would pay for it.
Under the city's park amenity donation program, a new bench would cost purchasers $2,500 with a $400 10-year renewal. Adopting an existing park bench has a price tag of $1,250 with a $400 10-year renewal.
The program has expanded exponentially over the last two decades. Also available in Coquitlam parks are picnic tables ($4,500 with $600 renewal), trees ($1,000), Adirondack style chairs ($2,500/$400), games tables ($4,000/$600), outdoor foosball tables ($5,500), outdoor table tennis tables ($10,500), and picnic shelters ($20,000 to $50,000 depending on size). In addition, playground donations, outdoor exercise equipment and youth sport courts can be donated with the cost determined at the time of the donation.
-with file from Gary McKenna
