Supporters of the off-leash dog park want council to leave it where it is. Minor baseball wants the dog park converted to a baseball facility with dog owners relocated to Kinsmen park. (Keith Lacey file photo)
Town of Osoyoos council is not willing to make any final decision about moving the current off-leash dog park and turning it into a minor baseball facility until all dollar figures are presented, which will hopefully be available for them before a council meeting set for Monday, Oct. 16.
After a lengthy discussion at Monday’s regular meeting of town council, councillors voted in favour of two motions to bring to 2018 budget discussions the costs and designs for erecting two minor baseball diamonds in the Desert Park infield. These diamonds would be sized for minor baseball and slow pitch use and include shale infields, pitching mounds and fencing.
They also voted in favour of looking at the costs involved to convert the current dog park back into a minor baseball facility and move the dog park to Kinsmen Park in the east part of town.
Staff was also asked to include in its report to identify the development of possible future baseball diamonds at a test orchard the town owns on the West Bench.
Mayor Sue McKortoff acknowledged the issue of potentially moving the dog park from its current location across town in order to build a minor baseball facility “has indeed become a very contentious issue” as councillors have received numerous emails and letters about this issue.
Last week, local resident Elizabeth Burnett revealed more than 300 local residents had signed a paper and online petition asking council to keep the popular dog park at its current location.
The dog park has been heavily used since it opened five years ago and while no one is opposed to Osoyoos developing a minor baseball facility, it should not come at the expense of moving the current dog park, said Burnett.
Several weeks ago, local dentist Dr. Jason Bartsch made a presentation to council asking they consider moving the dog park across town to Kinsmen Park and erecting a quality minor baseball facility at the dog park.
Gerald Davis, the town’s director of community servicers, told council Monday that the dog park is well used and maintained by the town and regular users.
“They have taken tremendous ownership and pride in the facility,” said Davis. “The park is not in a busy part of town and is relatively easy for all users to access.
“It has ample parking and is a large green space for the many users who have small, medium and large dogs.”
Additional ball diamonds are needed to accommodate the rapid increase in membership in the Osoyoos Minor Baseball Association and to enable program growth as players get older and will need a larger and better facility, said Davis.
Kinsmen Park already has washrooms, perimeter fencing and a shade structure, however, parking isn’t readily available, especially in the summer months, he said.
The Community Services Advisory Committee does agree that a new ball diamond is needed in Osoyoos, “but not necessarily to the demise of the current dog park,” said Davis.
Another option would be to convert one or two fields at Desert Park into minor baseball diamonds, he said.
One area close to the horse barns on the northeast side of the infield may work well, he said.
“In the past, this diamond had a mound and has some non-covered seating for dugouts,” he said. “This could be the most cost-effective option that could accommodate the masses. Because the diamonds at Desert Park are relatively close to each other, fencing may be an issue.”
Another field on the east side of the infield does not overlap any other field and may be the best option if only one can be converted into a baseball diamond, he said.
If the redeveloped minor baseball diamond can’t accommodate slow pitch, then a facility on the West Bench field could be used for the slow pitch league, he said.
Coun. Mike Campol said this issue has been polarizing for many in the community and he’s not happy about residents from one side of the issue having attacked others via social media.
Considering the threat of closure of Osoyoos Secondary School twice in the past several years, Campol said it’s his opinion that attracting young families to our community is vitally important and offering quality minor sports programs must remain a big priority for council.
Campol said he believes turning the dog park into a minor baseball facility and moving it to Kinsmen Park is his preferred option at this point.
“I do see this as a viable solution,” he said.
Coun. C.J. Rhodes didn’t agree saying he leaned towards keeping the dog park where it is and building ball diamonds at Desert Park is the best option.
“I just feel that Desert Park is the place to do it (ball diamonds),” he said.
Coun. Carol Youngberg said she’s not prepared to make any final decision until a more detailed staff reports includes the financial details about options at the current dog park or building ball diamonds at Desert Park.
“I’m really torn about this … costing is a big part,” she said.
No matter what happens, Youngberg said she believes having a minor baseball facility located close to Osoyoos Secondary School is crucial as minor baseball continues to grow and more older kids are going to get involved in future years.
Davis said as minor baseball continues to grow in popularity and more children register, the need for a proper facility will continue to grow.
Davis told council he will try and complete a detailed financial report about the costs for building a minor baseball facility at Desert Park and the current dog park in time for the Oct. 16 council meeting.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
