The organizer of a petition to have a 91原创 park renamed to remember teenage drug overdose victim Carson Crimeni is beginning to wonder if there is any interest in the idea at Township city hall.
鈥淭here鈥檚 zero reply,鈥� Geoff McNeill told the 91原创 Advance Times on Saturday.
鈥淣辞迟丑颈苍驳.鈥�
McNeill said he has submitted the petition by email, twice, to the Township, with no response.
鈥淚s that not a formal request?鈥� McNeill wondered.
鈥淚 originally thought that this would be something that would be addressed in council.鈥�
He is starting to worry the petition will be ignored.
READ MORE: Township can鈥檛 rename Walnut Grove park after teen who died without official ask: mayor
McNeill said he鈥檚 only had one phone call from the Township since he made contact, and it wasn鈥檛 about the petition.
It was to ask him if he had placed Jack-O-Lanterns at the skate park as part a memorial for Carson, who was 14 when he died of an apparent overdose in the park, not far from his home, on Aug. 7.
鈥淚 wish I had,鈥� McNeill commented at the time.
So far, the the change.org online petition to have the skateboard bowl renamed the 鈥淐arson Crimeni Memorial Skateboard Park鈥� has raised 4,000 signatures, at least 1,000 of them local 91原创 residents, McNeill estimates.
McNeill, who has just returned from a trip to Russia with his wife to undergo treatment for their MS, said he plans to keep pressing the Township.
鈥淚 feel I owe it to Carson鈥檚 family,鈥� McNeill commented.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a lawyer I鈥檓 not a politician, I鈥檓 just someone who want to so something for the community.
READ ALSO: 91原创 couple with MS go to Russia for treatment
In his submission to the Township, McNeill said the purpose of renaming the park was to 鈥渞emember Carson Crimeni, the tragedy of his death and the horrendous treatment he received by those he thought were his friends鈥�,鈥� to 鈥渞emind today鈥檚 and tomorrow鈥檚 youth of what happened to poor Carson in the hopes that such a future tragedy can be avoided,鈥� and 鈥渁cknowledge and show respect for the communal grief and it鈥檚 spontaneous manifestation of a public memorial for Carson Crimeni at the Skateboard Park that lasted for weeks after his tragic death. 鈥�
McNeill鈥檚 proposal would include a 鈥渓ist of remembrance鈥� with the names of others that have lost their lives to drug overdoses in the same area.
He also suggested signage that would include the BC Good Samaritan Law that says anyone who provides 鈥渆mergency medical services or aid to an ill, injured or unconscious person 鈥� is not liable for damages for injury to or death of that person 鈥︹��
READ MORE: Grief and anger as family mourns 91原创 teen Carson Crimeni
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READ MORE: VIDEO: Grandfather speaks out about teen who died after overdosing in 91原创 park
READ MORE: Carson Crimeni autopsy found no obvious cause of death, father says
READ MORE: Carson Crimeni鈥檚 mom mourns son
Carson was found in severe medical distress in Walnut Grove Community Park on Wednesday night (Aug. 7) by police who tried to revive him while waiting for paramedics to arrive. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
According to the family, a report on the police investigation has been handed to Crown Counsel, who will decide whether to lay charges.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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