Angry citizens packed town hall on Oct. 15 and forced council to back down on a plan to immediately sell off six of the municipality's 14 parks.
“Quite a few people here are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore,” said resident Ken Craig, who spearheaded the public backlash at the town plan. “You were elected to represent us and yet you are sticking it to us.”
The Oct. 15 regular council meeting scheduled a first reading on a motion to offer for sale six small parks or green spaces scattered throughout Sundre. The town also intends to unload the soccer pitch on the east side of the river but it will remain as is until administration and user groups work together to find an alternate location within the next five years.
News of the town's intention ignited furious local opposition. Council ultimately opted not to proceed with its original motion. Instead it accepted Coun. Tony Jordan's alternative motion that it “revisit” the sale of the pocket parks and find an “amicable” solution.
“This is simply to open discussion,” said Jordan in response to several stinging public attacks on the plan. “The intent here is not to sell them (parks) and make off with the money like bandits.”
With the town ultimately backing off from its original motion, Sundre residents will now have the opportunity to make their voices heard again at an open house some time before Dec. 17. The precise date has yet to be set as town officials want to prepare all options and ensure the public has correct information. The open house will focus on the pocket parks but will also deal with the future of Sundre's parks system. It will feed into the process for the town's Recreation Master Plan, which is earmarked for the 2014 civic budget.
The controversy began when the community learned the town wanted to sell off three playground-equipped pocket parks at 5th Ave. S.W., 122 5 St. S.E. and 214 10 Ave. N.E. The town also wanted to unload two unequipped pocket parks at 1002 2 St. N.E. and 39 Noblefern Way. As well, the town's plan was to sell off a sixth equipped park at Aspen Cres. N.E., with the intent to develop the land for a new doctor's residence under its Doctor's Retention Program.
Town officials estimated the total assessed value of the pocket parks is about $399,000. In a report to council, town officials said the intent of the sale was to expand the current tax base and have additional funds for future projects.
However, many protesters at the meeting felt the town was overstepping legal boundaries.
“If the town forces a developer to give up land for green space as part of the conditions for development how can council in clear conscious turn around and sell it?” said Craig, who was joined by others in charging the proposed sale could be contravening sections of the provincial Municipal Government Act. “If I did that it could be called theft.”
Many in attendance questioned notions the pocket parks were not valued or used. Council was told the green spaces were vital in attracting new citizens from larger urban centres, and if sold off, property values would diminish and children would be left without accessible and safe public play areas.
“If you take away these parks are they (children) going to go to drugs? It is important for our kids to grow up outside so that they can enjoy themselves and blossom,” said resident Lisa Laundry, who added council should consider putting in amenities at the pocket parks. “If you put in a water park and toilets I guarantee you it will be full in summer.”
Cheri Funke, a resident near the Aspen Crescent pocket park, also questioned why the town wanted to unload that green space to make way for a future doctor's residence when there are several lots already for sale in that area.
“Buy one of them and leave our parks alone,” said Funke, who told council members she played in one of the town's pocket parks as a child more than 25 years ago.
While locals were providing input, which is uncommon at first readings, council members attempted to assure citizens that any final decisions will be carefully considered.
“We will take a hard look at which ones we do keep and enhance and which ones we make the hard choice,” said Mayor Annette Clews, adding council's decision to put the issue to an open house was not a case of members bowing to public pressure. “The purpose was to engage the public and to move forward.
“The response lets me know they want to be engaged on parks in the community,” she said, acknowledging the community was venting its passion on the issue. “Any engagement that impacts on the quality of life is important to council.”
Coun. Chris Vardas said there were going to be some changes with the pocket parks but “not drastic”, adding calculated decisions would be made with more information.
However, Coun. Pat Toone told citizens she has changed her mind on the future of the pocket parks and that she now favours keeping them for the public.
