Backlash ‘selfish’

The recent backlash towards city council and the city regarding the public usage of Massich Place Stadium is undeserved and selfish.

Prince George has many multiuse and sport specific venues and at no time in the past can I remember such a concerted attack concerning reduced usage. Ice rinks for instance have a long line of user groups from hockey and figure skating, representing everyone from Pee Wee and Atom children right up to two local junior hockey teams. While the city does its best to allow for public skating, it just isn’t feasible to allow for extended hours of public usage. Our swimming pools are the same, with a careful balance of public usage mixed with various swim clubs, dive clubs and specialty programs. Why is it then, that the public are demanding unbridled access to the track from dawn to dusk?

Certainly those public users who enjoy the easier conditions of walking on the rubberized track must accept that Prince George Minor Football, high school football, various track and field entities, hig school track and field and as of this year, the UNBC Timberwolves men’s and ladies soccer teams deserve to have a right to use the facilities that have been upgraded to provide the best possible playing services for their respective sports?

To use the pools and ice-rinks, there has always been a nominal charge, in addition to the tax dollars contributed by the people of the city. In the case of the track however, there has never been a charge for walking and the overriding sentiment after years of use, is that it is a right and not a privilege to use the track.

I am not against the idea of public usage and I am sure that the city will endeavour to provide hours more suited to what we’re used to, however, we as a city must appreciate that the new and improved facilities will and already are, attracting more user groups who pay fees to use these facilities and should be afforded the ability to utilize the facilities in a way that is not compromised by entitled walkers who not only interfere with certain user groups but also potentially present a safety concern.

With the sheer number of school fields, parks, trails and quiet suburbs, maybe this can be seen as an opportunity to re-engage with your friends and neighbours and walk closer to home.

Mike Maslen, Prince George