Dear Editor:
I read with interest the steps being taken to make our parks more user friendly. I am in total agreement with this effort. I live in White Sands so see first-hand a lot of things going on in Gyro Park.
One thing the article does not mention is any effort to control the local offenders. There is a core of locals year-round that run dogs without leashes and without picking up after the dogs.
They smoke joints, drink alcohol and defy any local rules and laws. They seem to be above the law as they are never approached by RCMP or local law enforcement officers.
I have seen the “Quebec kids” being discriminated against many times this summer while the local offenders get away scot-free for doing exactly the same or worse.
I certainly commend the efforts by the authorities to keep law and order in our parks, but let’s not have two sets of rules.
Another thing that would make Gyro Park more attractive to tourists and locals alike would be a few picnic tables. Daily there are families who come down to the park with picnic baskets, only to leave because there is no place to eat. Perhaps it would be wise to leave a few tables there that are used for the many functions in the park.
We are fortunate indeed to have the many lakeside parks that we have. They are clearly an asset that most communities would love to have.
Let’s take care of them for all to enjoy.
M. A. Menzies
Osoyoos, B.C.
