Tweel urges city to rescind master plan for Victoria Park

Coun. Mitchell Tweel thinks the entire Victoria Park master plan in Charlottetown should be thrown in the garbage.

Tweel, who voted against adopting the plan in July, thinks it’s only a matter of time before things like an expanded boardwalk to accommodate cyclists become reality.

The city spent about $ 90,000 to have Dartmouth- based planners Ekistics conduct public meetings and compile a 152- page report on suggestions for the long- term future of Victoria Park. Those suggestions include a wider boardwalk to accommodate cyclists, the return of year- round two- way traffic, closing off part of the park’s driveway and decommissioning the old Kiwanis ball field.

The mere suggestion of change prompted two city residents to deliver a petition to Mayor Clifford Lee with more than 300 signatures recently. Lee said there is no desire to widen the boardwalk during the life of the current council.

Tweel said he’s not buying it, explaining that when council adopted the report in July it basically means most, if not all, the recommendations will be acted upon. He cited the 2009 review of the police department and report as evidence, saying 95 per cent of the recommendations have been brought in.

“That resolution means we’re going to implement it. The wheels have come off this wagon,’’ he said, in reference to the public opposition. “Why is this community and the city at different ends of the spectrum?’’

Coun. Melissa Hilton, chair of the parks and recreation committee, and Lee have both stressed that no major changes will be made without a public meeting.

Tweel said it’s obvious when residents show up with petitions that the public isn’t convinced major changes aren’t coming.