Imagine Rockies without Banff?

Editor:rnIn 1886 several town councilors and a few local citizens petitioned the federal government to acquire 400 ha of land on the outskirts of their town. At the time they were ridiculed for wasting prime land on parklands. Now 120 years later few can question the wisdom of setting aside Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver. It is now one of Vancouver's largest tourist attractions and is visited by eight million people per year.
Nearly 80 years later an abandoned CPR rail yard in south Vancouver was the site of a proposed condo development. A group of dedicated citizens joined forces with the Vancouver Parks Department to raise $3 million dollars to buy the site. VanDusen Botanical Gardens is now the site of over 7,500 types of plants from six continents and is considered a must see when visiting Vancouver.
Development is always an easier road than setting aside public lands for parks and green space. But long after the developments have aged, devalued and need to be ripped down, parkland will continue to be appreciated and serve the community. And whether it's Mission Creek Natural Area in Kelowna or the Osoyoos Golf Course, these public facilities were the vision of a few but now enjoyed by many.
The heart of Osoyoos is at the base of Main Street where the community has come together for over 50 years. It is still the heart of the Cherry Fiesta and the site of the Osoyoos fireworks on July 1. The referendum that was held to decide whether or not to buy the packinghouse lands was voted down by the public, but the first development proposal for the site was also unsuccessful. Times change and we should revisit the potential of the old packinghouse site. The current proposed development is a destination type complex and could be located anywhere. It doesn't have to be situated on beautiful lake front property.
Osoyoos' number one industry is based on three things and the occurrence of them all in one location: the golf course, the wineries, and most importantly, the lake with its beaches. I feel it is important not to restrict access to the lake by walling it in with four story buildings (or higher) that effectively cut off public access.
I am grateful for the legacy of those who had the foresight to fight for Stanley Park, Mission Creek in Kelowna and the golf course in Osoyoos. When citizens of Osoyoos look back in 20 or 50 years what will our legacy be? The walling in of Osoyoos Lake or the preservation of the jewel of the Okanagan? Osoyoos without the park at the foot of Main is like the Rocky Mountains without Banff National Park. Imagine.
Allan CarswellrnOsoyoos

Editor:rnDuring the course of my day, I find myself waiting (sometimes impatiently) for a break in traffic to access Highway 3 from the south side so I can drive about a block and a half to pick up laundry from our customers on Motel Row. So far seven minutes waiting is my record. Round trips can take upwards of 20 minutes sometimes.
It is so nice to know that eventually, sometime, maybe sooner, maybe later, because of the need for better access to the Condos on the northside, that we will get some kind of light system there.
Did our politicians really not figure out sooner that there would be hundreds of cars a day this summer trying to make what can only be classed now as dangerous attempts to access Highway 3 from both sides on Cottonwood Drive?rnIn our mall, we have six businesses that would very much appreciate a speedier solution to this danger.
Several times during the course of our day, we hear the screech of brakes as near misses occur at that corner because of drivers' frustration with the wait to get onto Highway 3.
It is all dandy to tell us that residents' concerns will be addressed this fall before any decisions are made on changing the roads over here.
You had best not forget to ask the businesses also what they think.
In the meantime, the heat will get hotter and the frustrations will grow, probably leading to a collision at this corner. Then who is to blame for that?

Ken JohnsonrnOsoyoos Laundry and Dry Cleaners