A sad soap opera

Recent letters concerning the fate of this long-awaited park (1989 – 2016) and the now obvious commercial agenda for the property sought by the city should alert us all of the very real danger of losing it!
 
The public have been seduced into believing the 2014 rezoning to P3 means a park is assured.  Mr. Drinnans  well researched letter (Sept 22) points out the power of the city”s real estate dept. which allows them under this P3 zoning to choose a myriad of other uses for a property;  also, pointed out is that a seemingly large amount set aside to build, is not guaranteed!  After  some twelve years of vigorous  public  objections to the likely commercialism of this purchased-for-park lakeshore we seem to have gained nothing! Ego, greed and power do hold the upper hand!
 
The city’s purposely set up “charette” first demanded the paddleclub lease be included in the “peoples opportunity” to express themselves.  That single device pretty well destroyed any early hope of park construction and the dictated city parameters set for that effort resulted in such a grandiose design at such  overkill  and cost it was condemned by the public as was to be expected! Nothing about that exalted design resembled  the simple green linear park always envisioned!
 
Now, with the P3 zoning in jeopardy the city (stating lack of money to create a park) has deferred any progress for ten years to 2027 when in all likelihood it will all go round again!  Those years, however, provides the city with plenty of scheming time to fabricate some watertight edict capable of finally killing any  park plan in favour of their boutique hotel lots of commercial development and the ex mayors dream of miles of boardwalk!
 
This beautiful bay of broad views and secluded sweep of shoreline in the midst of the city is a true heritage original and not easy to replace, bought so long ago for specific park purposes.  Different times may require different uses but with a hectic world and madly exploding population we must protect our  special places!
 
After all this fiasco and years of struggle, does the public still have the energy to continue or is the battle lost?  Will the city ever listen?  Are the new mayor and council really there for the public good?
 
City hall - please build your commercial (maybe for lesser profit) on the east side of Abbott across the street from the park, create a spectacular addition to the burgeoning South Pandozi area by doing so! Give us a little break from cement and rebar, follow the earlier city commitment and preserve this precious bit of lakeshore as was planned  so long ago - for all of us!

Joy Lambrick