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Editorial: Just another eyesore

Putting a fence on the Gyro Park bandshell would do more harm than good
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It’s understandable that the City of Penticton should want to protect the Gyro Park bandshell, a valuable city asset.

In fact, protecting our joint assets qualifies as a basic city hall responsibility. And if staff is having to spend eight hours a week keeping it clean of graffiti and trash, that is a bit of a concern.

We don’t consider walling off the bandshell with a temporary fence a great solution. The bandshell is first and foremost, a public facility and should remain open to the public, even when it is not booked for a formal event.

To be sure, there are a number of public facilities that are secured when not in use: Cleland Theatre; the Community Centre and pool and the soccer bubble spring to mind.

But in each of these cases, the facility is considerably more easily damaged than the concrete structure of the bandshell.

The bandshell has more opportunity for use than other facilities, simply because it is open and usable. Besides concerts and other events, the bandshell can offer temporary protection from rain and sun, and an open stage for anyone wanting to put on an impromptu performance, be they kids from a daycare visiting the park or an older group.

Sure it may at times get used as shelter by the homeless in Penticton, but closing off the bandshell isn’t a solution to that problem either. It would only move the problem to a different area.

Let’s not cut off the chance for creative expression or play, just so city workers won’t have to maintain the bandshell, the same as they do with playgrounds, splash parks, boardwalks and other outdoor facilities.

Putting a fence across the stage would only create an eyesore. It probably wouldn’t be all that effective, since a fence would both draw attention and create a challenge for those so inclined to climb it and do more damage or simply tear the fence down.

Keeping it clean is just part of the job.