Learn entire Bluffs plan

Dear editor Re: The extension of Skaha Bluffs.

A gift of 150 acres of wilderness close to home? Could this be true?

For two years the Skaha Beach Society had to fight to save park land.

In 2015 delegations of outdoors enthusiasts saved the Mice area from development.

Others continue to lobby all levels to create a National Park to preserve a wilderness area.

We did not have a chance to fight to save land to increase King’s Park, which would have been great.

Instead we receive a gift of 150 acres, no campaigning, no demonstrations, no meetings.

As an avid hiker of the area on my own and as a member of two local hiking clubs, I would like to thank the Wiltse family for years of enjoying their land, along with bikers, and climbers and bears, rattle snakes, deer, coyotes, big horn sheep, and even a cougar. I would like to echo the words of Rolf Rybek’s letter of support from the climbing club.

The City of Penticton receives direct economic benefits from these visitors, economic impact studies have estimated a minimum of $4 million contribution to the local economy at the critical shoulder tourism season with an additional indirect contribution of the same amount.

Penticton markets the city as a mecca of outdoor activities, yet continually allow developers to cut off access to the wildness at Carmi Road, Cedar Avenue, Penticton Avenue, Pineview Road and Valleyview Road.

So I ask, What is not to like? The process maybe? There are four public meetings for people to attend where they can listen, ask, become informed and make a decision as to whether or not the land should move from RDOS to the City and leave us with 150 acres of wilderness to enjoy and share with nature.

I realize that due to past mistakes by council re public involvement, people are wary of what they are doing. Fair enough, I don’t want the city to miss this opportunity. Yes, there will eventually be 180 new homes, but if this deal does not work out, there may be 300 homes and no park with a different developer.

So please, take the time to learn about the proposal as a whole, not an isolated part.

Lenora Klappe Penticton