I love to read and my curiosity is always driving me to look up information, so it should come as no surprise that the Clearbrook library has been my favourite civic building in Abbotsford.

I say has been because of the appearance of the billboard sized sign touting Councillor John Smith’s million dollar garden.

Parents and other citizens know first hand of the playing fields, parks and green spaces that are overgrown and unusable because Parks and Recreation says it does not have the money for maintenance.

A recent study highlighted the fact Abbotsford does not have a single playground accessible to handicapped and disabled children or to permit disabled parents to take their children to a playground. Not one. A proposal was made to council to spend $50,000 to make one playground accessible, but council said NO, stating the city has no money.

But building a councillor’s million dollar garden? That’s a go.

In a City with proper priorities, if Councillor John Smith wanted a garden, the City’s reply and only contribution would be to hand Councillor Smith a shovel.