Parks are for people and not for profit

An area in question at Skaha Lake Park has been a marina for at least 50 years. Most of that time with very few pollution control regulations. Lead gas was used for years along with other chemicals and petroleum products.

A test of the soil and likely necessary soil decontamination will take months, if not a year, of production time.

The end game, now coming from the City, is to demolish the marina building, move it back 20 feet, to get it off the riparian area and onto city land. That will eliminate 20 feet of boat, trailer and car parking plus storage. This will mean that lost space will have to be provided somewhere else — on green space. Not acceptable.

A 20-to-30-seat licensed restaurant will require parking, businesses need parking, also requiring the lose of green space. Not acceptable.

That is exactly why this plan has been put out in such a vague fashion. The feedback form asks if you would agree to renew the marina building to support current operations and a café.

Full disclosure seems in short supply. The wonderful folks that run the marina and café now will be waiting with little to no income for at least a year maybe two.

The existing concession could be used as the marina office during construction but the concession stand is going out for tenders to be run as a liquor bar. Adjacent to the splash pad?

First it was beer on the beach, now it is selling liquor in the park and next the city wants a licensed restaurant. What else?

Parks are for the health and benefit of the citizens of all ages not for the profit of the liquor vendors.

Parks are for people not for profit.

When is a park full, when it is covered by parking lots and “amenities?”

This plan leaves us fighting for space in our park, yet again.

The mayor’s number is 250-490-1034, Donny van Dyke’s is 250-490-2407.

Lynn Crassweller

Penticton

the green