It took many years and several failed referendums, but finally after a successful referendum last June, new recreation facilities are coming to the Coast.
But construction on some of those facilities is taking longer than anticipated. So long, in fact, that some are getting a bit impatient.
Last week we received a letter concerning the new skatepark construction in Gibsons. The writer said the recent events by council and their decision-making are all about red tape and broken promises and that it reinforces to teenagers that they shouldn't "trust the man."
While we can appreciate it's frustrating the skateboard park has not been completed yet, to say that Gibsons council shouldn't be trusted and that they have broken their promise is way off base.
Council has committed to building the skatepark. The funds are available. But there are two major issues that still have to be resolved.
One is location. Council has gone to great lengths to come up with a suitable location without losing valuable parking space for the new community centre in Brothers Park or the tennis courts or other facilities planned for the area. They have finally decided to strike a citizens' committee to look at all the recreational facilities planned for Brothers Park and come up with a conceptual plan of the area that the Town can move forward on.
If the skateboard community is so passionate about the new park, as this letter writer claims, then those passions could be put to good use on this new committee.
The second issue is simply construction timelines. The consultants hired to plan and design the skatepark are busy with other projects and can't start the Gibsons project until February or March of next year. So even if council had found a location months ago, construction still could not have taken place.
The Town of Gibsons and the Sunshine Coast Regional District are trying their hardest to get all these facilities built - built properly, on budget and on time. Has everything gone as planned? No. Have both sides agreed with every decision? No. Is the level of frustration growing? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, we trust that both governments will find some common ground and make the right decisions and construction will begin. If that doesn't happen, then we can go after our politicians and pin their ears back, tell them they broke their promises and hold them accountable for their actions or lack of action.
We'd like to see these facilities built as much as anyone, but the message has to be one of trying to work together instead of against each other.
