Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter in regards to green spaces and public places in Summerland.
I often drive down Peach Orchard Road to Peach Orchard Park. I walk from the boat launch to the pier. What I see is neglect on the municipality’s part.
Peach Orchard Trail is full of fallen trees for better than four years ago. Now that they are aged and dried, should a forest fire break out, it will burn out of control. It will no longer be a forested trail and it will have an impact on habitat and the environment.
The municipality should try working with BC Wildfire Service to prevent this possibility.
Then, when I get to the boat launch, I see that the municipality has added more lighting and they have done some planting around three memorial benches on the south side of the boat launch. When these plantings are established, these benches will not be accessible.
When you walk further along the pathway, it is covered in leaves from the fall and winter. Plant materials are impeding the pathway.
The memorial bench by the pier has junipers growing through it that need to be cut back.
These issues didn’t happen overnight.
These benches are not free. They are paid for by individuals or groups and are not cheap. The cost is to cover the maintenance fee.
Private groups should not be responsible for raising money to restore the pier. It is a public space, paid for with tax dollars.
So now I ask myself, since the public raised the money to restore it, are we on the hook to maintain it or does it get neglected again?
Thank you to everyone who helped to raise the funds to restore it.
Wayne Good
Summerland