Debate erupts over fate of fields

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Jul 29 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

A Greater Vernon politician has suggested public access to Marshall Fields could disappear but that’s being denied by the City of Vernon and the parks board. In an attempt to find alternatives to building a sports complex on Aberdeen Road, Coldstream Coun. Jim Garlick questions why use of Marshall Fields in Vernon hasn’t been maximized and the site expanded. “If it’s park land, when are the next fields going in? Pressure needs to be put on the Greater Vernon Services Committee,” he said. But Garlick fears the city-owned Marshall Fields will ultimately not be available for recreation and he wonders why the site has not been added to GVSC’s parks inventory. But the city’s official community plan designated the area on Okanagan Landing Road as parks and open space. The waterfront plan is also being amended to eliminate plans for housing on part of the site.

“If anything, the city is looking at more green space,” said Dale Rintoul, city planner. “There’s been a pretty strong voice from Okanagan Landing residents that they want green space there.” The city owns Marshall Fields but it is leased for $1 a year to GVSC, which provides maintenance. A GVSC staff report suggests use of Marshall Fields is uncertain if tenure is not secured. But Leon Gous, city administrator, says there should be no concern about the current ownership. “Why would they think we’d withdraw parks from our own service?” he said of the city which funds about 70 per cent of GVSC’s budget. He added that the city also owns Polson Park, Kal Beach and other parks and they have remained available through regional co-operation for the last 30 years. Coun. Barry Beardsell, who also sits on the GVSC board, is firm that the city should retain ownership of the land which was originally bought for water and sewer facilities. “If the GVSC wants it, they can pay the city what it’s worth,” he said. Gary Corner, GVSC chairman and Coldstream mayor, isn’t worried public access to Marshall will be lost. “The lease we have would take three years to get out of if that even happened,” he said.

Instead of building a sports complex in Coldstream, Garlick wants Marshall Fields used more intensively, even if it means purchasing adjacent lands to expand its scope. “It will fit some baseball fields and other things,” he said. “If you put them (complexes) where there’s population, that’s smart.” But Beardsell dismisses Garlick’s suggestions. “There’s no land out there of any significance,” he said. The proposed sports complex site on Aberdeen Road is 118 acres while Marshall Fields, including the former Lakers golf course, is almost 64 acres. With real estate prices near Okanagan Lake skyrocketing, Gous suggests it’s not feasible to purchase more land there and Garlick’s plans could threaten other public assets. “He’s talking about abandoning the airport,” said Gous, of the amount of land needed. Corner contends that the Aberdeen Road property will still be needed even if facilities at Marshall Fields are expanded. “If we buy the Aberdeen block and expand Marshall, we’re still not there,” he said of public need for sports field and open space.

----------------------------

Marshall Fields concerns fall short Jul 29 2007 EDITORIAL

It’s hard to understand why anyone would think public use of Marshall Fields is going to disappear. If anything, there have been a number of recent actions that should solidify its future for parks and recreation. Specifically is the construction of the indoor soccer centre. After so much time and community donations went into the facility, it’s unlikely that it is now going to be bulldozed. And consider that the centre is popular, with many of the programs over-subscribed.
And there is also the fact that the City of Vernon has backed off plans to turn over the former Lakers Golf property to the private sector and it will remain open space. Adjacent to Marshall Fields, this site will be a significant addition to parkland there. And finally, city officials confirm that the waterfront plan is being amended to remove any prospect of housing on Marshall Fields.

We should also keep in mind that Marshall Fields is primarily used by Vernon residents so why would the city realistically want to limit access for its own residents? So why all the fuss? It’s hard to tell with the exception of trying to cloud legitimate debate about a proposed sports complex on Aberdeen Road in Coldstream. But some good may also come out of this debate over Marshall Fields. Calls for the site to be maximized and even expanded — if adjacent lands can be purchased — make sense. The Okanagan Landing area is growing and the demand for parks and recreation will remain strong. Marshall Fields is a wise choice for intense activity. But let’s look at that issue separately, and tone down the rhetoric. It’s not serving anyone’s interests.