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LETTER: Discussions needed on Summerland’s Memorial Park

Dear Editor:
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Dear Editor:

In last week’s Summerland Review, a small ad asked residents to take a survey regarding their plans for redoing Memorial Park and closing off a city street downtown for pedestrians only. There was less than a week to do this survey.

Council has spent the last four years in consultation with a company to draw up plans to change some of our downtown.

READ ALSO: Summerland asks for input about Memorial Park

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In Memorial Park, we do not need an outdoor skating rink, toboggan hill, removing the present bandshell and relocating it somewhere else with a wooden open structure, adding new pathways, relocating horseshoe pits or relocating the cenotaph.

Our present bandshell has character and history in our city. It needs to be preserved. Repair, if needed, and have a local artist paint a mural. The horseshoe club building has a lovely mural.

Redo the bathrooms, which are very unpleasant to use. We have very old, lovely, healthy trees in the park that should not be removed as they give us lots of shade during the festivals. Classic cars in the park is always a fun day.

The city wants an outdoor skating rink. If needed, when the aquatic centre is relocated to the arena, put an outdoor skating rink on the old site.

Where is the open discussion for all citizens at an open council meeting or information meeting?

They had an open meeting in the arena last fall for the new aquatic centre.

Also, Jubilee Road East residents want an open council meeting so they can voice disapproval of the six-storey affordable housing project on this street that will not have the parking required. This area has sing family homes and three-storey condos. The council prior to this one approved an affordable housing area for this property of small modular homes. Or keep this area to a three-storey building.

Council open meetings for residents could have been held outdoors at the bandshell during COVID-19. Everyone I have ever spoken to over the years – property owners, businesses and visitors – just love the small, historic town atmosphere of Summerland. Some of the stores could be improved upon with paint, even adding brick or stone work.

Council should put their time and effort to resurface the roads that are falling apart in our city. An example of a good road is Quinpool, which was done recently. Council elections are in October.

Rona Taylor

Summerland

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