OP/ED: Millennium Park not just for whiners
By Kyra Hoggan
I attended a public meeting Monday night, unveiling draft plans for Millennium Park.
I was very much impressed by the offerings – if I had any criticism to offer, it would be that I don’t believe linear thinkers will understand what they were seeing. When the city unveils a plan, we can generally expect it, upon approval, to be methodically, and speedily, implemented. I’m not sure many people understood that this “plan” was less a true plan than a detailed, well-researched wish list – and I think more than one of the 35+ attendees (myself included) were asking themselves how the hell we’re going to pay for all this. The short answer is, we’re not. Councillor Deb McIntosh referred to the plan as “grandiose”, and she’s dead right. It’s not meant to be an action plan we need to implement …and pay for …. in the next six months. I’ve come to think of it as a “piece-meal plan”. Should it, or some permutation of it, come to pass, it will be done a segment at a time, some of it at the city’s expense, for sure …but much of it through grant funding and community organizations partnering to fundraise …a bit here, a bit there, and I think we’ll all be surprised at how much can be accomplished without upping taxes or blowing the budget. The critical point being that the final price tag is fluid and ultimately irrelevant, and I don’t think everyone is going to understand that. That’s my first point. My second point is that people looking to love everything should look to sci-fi and fantasy books, or get super-rich and design their own properties. I LOVE the water-park element and the potential for family barbecues. I likewise LOVE the paw-shaped pool in the off-leash area (a stroke of genius, that. The marketing potential that feature will open for the city is staggering, and a potential cash-cow, regardless the construction costs). I don’t care much about the lawn-bowling element or the soccer field, which is okay – this isn’t for ME, it’s for whole community. People need to get over themselves and look at the big picture which, in Castlegar, is about more than one person or even one group of people. You’re not SUPPOSED to love everything – if you did, it would speak ill of the diversity of Castlegar’s population. Which brings me to my final point. One gentleman spoke volubly and at length on wanting the city to only better-maintain the park, while preserving its “peacefulness and quiet”. Read: he doesn’t want everyone in the city suddenly using the park. Basically, as far as I can tell, he wants it to be an un-paid-for extension of his own backyard, for free, that is maintained better and at the expense of all the other taxpayers in the city, rather than him alone. That’s just so selfish and small-minded, I can’t believe it. If you don’t want the rest of the community using it, buy the property and post “no trespassing” signs, and pay to maintain it yourself. If you’re not willing to do that … then, not to put too fine a point on it, pull up your big-girl panties and deal. This is a community asset, bought and paid for by the community, maintained by the community. Everyone else pays taxes, same as you. To expect the city to discourage the park’s other owners (read: taxpayers) from accessing it … that’s not only unrealistic, it’s also small and mean. I was so disappointed to see the number of people nodding their heads at this ridiculous position. I guess “community” is relevant only when we’re in crisis … it doesn’t mean we have to share … or even include those who flat out PAID for the venue you don’t wish them to use. Because you want “peace and quiet”. That’s why you have a backyard. May I suggest you spend some time making your own backyard more appealing, and less time trying to cheat your brethren taxpayers from their equal right to community space? That’s it, rant concluded. Direct your hate mail to Deb McIntosh, if you please (just kidding, she’ll kill me for that, email info@castlegarsource.com). For more information or to provide feedback on the draft plan, visit www.castlegar.ca
