Members from the Sooke Horseshoe Club came before council, on June 25, seeking some support for a proposal to build up to 16 horseshoe pitches in John Phillips Memorial Park.
Last year the club was looking to build the pitches and a club house along the new Sooke River Road park purchased by the district.
Richard Hobday and Tom Bligh said that the club would maintain the park area where the club would be located on an ongoing basis and that the trees would stay. The club would like to start with eight pitches and expand to 16, if the interest and the public numbers were right.
The club obtained 135 signatures from local folks on a petition asking if they would like to play horseshoes.
The club would like to play at either the Sooke River Road Park or John Phillips Memorial Park (JPMP).
Mayor Wendal Milne stated that there were now a number of groups who wished to use JPMP, including the mountain bikers and dog park people.
He encouraged the horseshoe club to work with the engineering department and stated that using the JPMP was good as it needs to be used by people.
Councillor Bev Berger said a park plan needs to be in place so that the public knows what the long term plan is for the park. It needs to go through a public process, she said.
Coun. Rick Kasper said there were issues with a private club occupying public land.
“We’re here to ensure everybody has access and use of lands we have control of,” said Kasper. “It has to fit in (to the park plan).”
Discussion ensued on who would be able to use a clubhouse, if it were built in the park.
Milne called for legal advice and sent the item back to staff.