MONTREAL - Oxygen Park is not named on any map but it's in the hearts of many McGill Ghetto residents.
"This is an oasis of green in a sea of concrete," said Norman Nawrocki a resident. "You see all the concrete, steel and brick, you see the asphalt all around us and you walk in the park and you go, ‘ahh, fresh air, we can breathe here.'"
The green space along Hutchison just West of Park Avenue is a mere 90-by-20 feet.
"We're facing a huge battle because there's a mega-developer who has made an offer to buy the land and wants to destroy the park and build condos and we're saying we don't need more condos," says Nawrocki.
The land has belonged to Maurice Fattal for at least 22 years. The landowner allowed the residents to do what they want with it until two years ago when a zoning change made it possible to build on the land.
CTV could not contact Fattal but his real estate agent confirmed that a development is planned for the site.
It wasn't hard to find many in the area who spoke lovingly of the humble green space.
"We need to keep it-- look at this beautiful green space-- people have paid for this with their own money," said one.
Those hoping to save the green space are holding a demonstration next Saturday at 1 p.m. at the site.
