Why a short, 173-year-old path is causing controversy in a St. John's neighbourhood

A 173-year-old path at the edge of Georgestown a neighbourhood in St. John's has become a source of controversy.

For some, it's a symbol of the social impacts of mental illness, addiction and homelessness.

The path, known colloquially as the Nuns' Walk, runs from the parking lot of the Lantern, a community event venue, through a tree-covered area to the parking lot shared by the Presentations Sisters convent, the Gathering Place and the Basilica.

Elizabeth Oliver, who's been a Georgestown resident for over 50 years, said the path saw steady foot traffic.

"If you live in this end of the neighborhood and you want to go to the sort of western side of downtown, it's a great shortcut," she said in an interview with CBC News.

Kids used it to get to school, churchgoers used it to get to mass, residents used it to get to the grocery storeand clients used it to access services at the Gathering Place a shelter, soup kitchen and resource centre.

But in September, the gates to the path were closed and locked.

Some Georgestown residentswere dismayed.

Annette Manning would walk her dogs along the trail, but also had memories of walking the trail as a child, when she attended the nearby church.

"I loved coming up here because it reminded me of my childhood, reminded me of the history of the place," Manning said.

A question of safety

Unlike many of the other paths in St. John's, the Nuns' Walk is on private property.

Sister Betty Ray Lee, provincial leader of the Presentation Sisters, said the path was created in 1851 for sisters to move back and forth between the convent and the former on-site school.

Lee, who has been with the Presentation Sisters since 1960, said the group decided to close the path after receiving reports of drug use, harassment and used needles on the ground. But she said the Presentation Sisters didn't take the decision lightly.

"Part of me doesn't even agree that it's the right decision. But it was the best choice we had for now because of the dangerous activity that was going on," she said.

George Masswohl, who lives across the street from the entrance to the path, said he experienced that activity first-hand when he came upon a group of people using drugs.

"I just said to them, 'Hey, this isn't really a great place for that.' And I understand that they got a little bit ornery. And one of them came at me. She just got up and started running at me with the needle pointed out, saying she's going to jab me with it," he said.

LISTEN | Controversy over a shuttered path in Georgestown:

St John's Morning Show8:10A 175 year-old path is generating controversy in a St. John's neighbourhood

Masswohl is one of the Georgetown residents in favour of closing the path.But, he said, he isn't opposed to one day reopening it with improvements to safety.

"In terms of it being a public safety issue, this needed to be shut down until solutions could be found," he said.

A balancing act

The path's closure ignited a debate in Georgestown, with a post on the neighbourhood Facebook group generating dozens of comments.

Although residents don't all agree with the decision to close the path, many do agree that the there's bigger issues at play, like the housing crisis, addiction and the high cost of living.

Manning wants more communication between the organizations and residents in the area.

"We have to come together and think about how we can solve this problem in a real way," she said.

Lee said the Presentation Sisters are meeting with residents this week, and she isn't closing the door on one day reopening the path.

"We're very concerned about the state of the world that makes these things happen. So it's the delicate balance between caring for the people who are homeless and who are in need and protecting our sisters, our staff, our neighbours and so on," Lee said. "It's a balancing act, I guess."

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