Consider the options when it comes to a national park
Last week the Grasslands Park Review Coalition held a meeting in Oliver to discuss the implications of a national Park on the South Okanagan.
It was a packed house, with over 100 people voicing their displeasure at the idea of a national park. They had many reasons to oppose a park; some feared the impact such a change would have on hunting and recreational use, while others said there would be a substantial negative impact on the local economy. Still others said the Land Resource Management Program, an initiative which had taken five years to hammer out until all parties were satisfied with the results, is more than adequate to protect the Okanagan's flora and fauna.
But though the concerned citizens who raised these questions at the meeting offered legitimate concerns, there's been a bit of an overreaction to what might not even be a problem.
For one thing, Parks Canada and the provincial government haven't put a stamp of approval on anything but the intent to study the issue of a national park in the area. No land is being bought, and nothing past a feasibility study is planned for the next few years.
For another, there seems to be a misconception that the area being studied is the area that will become the site of a National Park. Though Brian Brown, who is running the study, has insisted the study area is much larger than any possible park could be, the message doesn't seem to be getting out.
And while a national park may or may not be a good idea, there's more than just empty land to consider. Many people have made this land their home, their source of livelihood and their recreational space. They have a perfect right to try and protect what they've worked hard to enjoy.
At the same time, many people have moved to the area, and spend their hard earned dollars here because they want to be in an area unspoiled by industrial and urban development. A national park might enhance their way of life, and it may bring more transplanted wealth from the city to rural Okanagan.
But each side should take a moment and listen to what the other has to say. No matter what the eventual outcome of a park study is, it just makes sense to listen to the results and then decide, rather than making a rash decision. No matter what happens, we all have to live with the consequences.
