Parks proposal panned

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 12, 2008

Politicians are not willing to revisit controversial plans for sports facilities on a chunk of Coldstream farm land. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee will not take action on a suggestion from businessman Jack Borden to reconsider recreational activities on part of the Coldstream Ranch on Aberdeen Road if agricultural uses are included. “I was laughing about it,” said Gyula Kiss, Coldstream’s alternate director, when asked for his view on Borden’s concept. Late last year, GVAC proposed purchasing 118 acres of land from Coldstream Ranch for a sports complex. However, a majority of Coldstream residents voted against forwarding an application for non-farm use on the property to the Agricultural Land Commission. And Kiss is convinced that public opinion hasn’t changed. “It was a clear message from the community that they want it retained in one piece for agriculture,” he said.

As part of his proposal, Borden says 25 per cent of the property could be dedicated for intensive agriculture. “Community groups could form an association for community involvement to garden on the dedicated land,” he wrote in a letter to GVAC. “GVAC could consider a broader term of reference for recreation and use this dedicated land for recreational purposes for seniors and families where their recreation is gardening.” Borden insists this concept would increase agricultural production on the land, beautify the property and the ALC would likely support the initiative. “(It would) provide the seniors in our community with more opportunities to recreate and gain benefit from the taxes they pay for Greater Vernon parks. Remember that not many seniors — plus 65 — are playing baseball or football,” he said. “Please give these ideas some consideration. The deal is not dead. Nothing is over until it is over.”But that isn’t the view of GVAC’s chairman, pointing out that Borden’s letter was received and filed with no debate. “If members of the committee want to reconsider it (Aberdeen Road), they can bring it forward, but there are other parks plans we’re looking at,” said Wayne Lippert.