3 Blind Mice a city park?

Photo: City of Penticton

The City of Penticton’s parks and recreation committee has been given the go ahead to study the creation of a new city park in the Three Blind Mice area at the end of Riddle Road.

Riddle Road resident Doug Cox and Protect Penticton Parks Society member Karen Brownlee were before council Tuesday to request the committee be directed to study the issue.

The 338-acre forestry/grazing-zoned parcel at 1400 Riddle Road is currently under lease to the Penticton and Area Cycling Association and local disc golf club.

Cox criticized PACA’s growing network of mountain bike trails, which have been funded by numerous grants, for increasing wildfire risk. Cox also showed council a series of photos of standing-dead trees and debris he called wildfire fuel.

He said there would likely be a team of volunteers willing to work to improve the space and remove wildfire fuel, but only if the area is protected permanently as park space.

Council directed city staff to work with the parks and recreation committee to start preliminary conversations on the possibility of a new city park in the area.