Desert Park is now the scene of two horse racing days per year, like this one in August. The facilities are also used during the winter for training horses from Alberta that are brought here for the better climate. The recently released Town of Osoyoos Community Services Master Plan depicts horses as a declining industry in B.C. and suggests the land should be put to other uses. Carol Youngberg, president of the Desert Park Exhibition Society, however, believes there’s potential to grow the equestrian activities while also seeing the facility better used by non-equestrian sports and events. (Richard McGuire file photo)
The recently released Town of Osoyoos Community Services Master Plan final draft makes many useful recommendations about recreation facilities in this community.
When it comes to the future of Desert Park, however, the consultants were perhaps wearing horse blinders.
Their report presents a number of options and suggests pros and cons for each. It doesn’t prescribe a particular future use for the park.
The underlying message, however, is clear – the horse industry has little or no future and the land could be put to better use.
The authors, Lees and Associates, from Vancouver, seem to suggest that continued equestrian use of the park is incompatible with other recreational uses that would better serve the community.
Mayor Stu Wells admits that the recommendations took him by surprise. His response is tactful.
“Those are out-of-town consultants,” he said. “I think they did a good job, however, I don’t know if they have the complete local flavour.”
Carol Youngberg, the president of the Desert Park Exhibition Society, has worked tirelessly to bring back horse racing to Osoyoos and has now pulled off four successful race days this year and last.
She’s also done much to attract horse owners and trainers, especially from Alberta, to use Desert Park for training during the winter months.
As she points out, this brings about 120 people to Osoyoos hotels and restaurants during the slower winter months and puts a significant amount of money into the economy.
She is the first, however, to acknowledge that Desert Park is underused and could have a strong future as a multi-use facility that includes other sports and entertainment events, while also continuing its equestrian uses.
We agree.
The Vancouver consultants suggest a number of grandiose ideas such as a new arena and aquatic centre or an expanded golf course.
They even resurrect the old idea of an RV park, while noting that there was strong opposition when the idea was raised in 2005.
The reality, however, is that these ideas cost money the town doesn’t have. Also, the location away from the town’s core is less conducive to major facilities, even if the high school could benefit from their proximity.
The consultants suggest the buildings at Desert Park are nearing the end of their life.
Youngberg, however, has an engineer’s report outlining the work that needs to be done to bring such facilities as the grandstand up to safe standards.
She also plans to bring forward a three-phase plan for upgrading the facility.
It remains to be seen whether the economics of fixing the present facility make sense. Throwing good money after bad is never wise.
But given there is no realistic possibility of building a new sports facility in the foreseeable future, the best plan seems to be to put the existing facility to the best use possible.
Not all recreational uses are compatible with equestrian use. Likewise, not all other recreational uses are compatible with each other.
It will require a meeting of groups to try to work out a plan that will benefit as many users as possible.
Youngberg is excited by the interest that Osoyoos is getting from such horse industry groups as harness racing.
Given a chance, some of these equestrian events could become a major tourist draw. It’s too early to rule them out.
The consultants’ report should stimulate discussion on the future of Desert Park, but ultimately the park’s future should be decided by residents of Osoyoos sitting down together and finding uses that most benefit the community.
