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Letters: Plan park for all not just a few

Proposed Bike Skills Park distresses local resident

The more I learn about the proposed bicycle park for the John Phillips Memorial Park, besides Otter Point Road, the more distressed I feel. Yes, we need more activities suitable for the youth of Sooke, and yes, the park needs to be developed  for all to enjoy. I feel there are some questions and concerns that have not been addressed.

Who will pay for the huge expence that this bike park will cost, for the set up, maintenance, liability insurance, etc.? Will a large portion of the cost be paid for with taxpayers money?

Do we really want part of our largest park in Sooke to be dug up and totally rearranged? I believe the set up time will take five years, and after that runs will be changed when the “boredom factor” sets in.

Have other bigger and more suitable locations been looked into?

Has the     environmental impact been studied at all?   Erosion, effect on wildlife, fauna, etc.

The noise level and danger aspect of the bike park is also of concern.

Approximately one-quarter of the park will be given over to the bike park,there are 16 to 24 horseshoe pits and a club house proposed, and the south-east corner will eventually be taken when Otter Point Road is reconstructed to remove the intersection of Grant Road.  Not much green space will be left over for the rest of us.

If there is any money available, please, let’s put it into developing the park in a way that makes it beneficial for everyone to use, and not just a select few.

Kaye Leicester Sooke