Dear Editor:
Town of Osoyoos council’s decision to ask for Request for Proposals for a ‘Wibit’ inflatable water park to be located on Legion Beach on 89th Street is premature to say the least.
The decision by council is apparently based on decisions reached during two secret council meetings on Oct. 3 and Nov 21, as well as on council’s interpretation of less than 250 responses (not all from town residents) to a questionnaire.
The questions were prepared by the town’s Planning and Development Services department on direction from council so that there would be “some level of community consultation.”
What a minute. Why the secrecy? Why the rush? Why just two possible locations?
Why is Gyro Beach – arguably the Town’s biggest and best – not up for discussion?
Why not let the potential providers (I understand there is interest) of this ‘for profit’ summer amusement facility present their pitch(es) to council at an open meeting?
What are the financial arrangements? Why the questionable conclusions from the results of the so-called consultation?
I do not doubt that a ‘Wibit’ Water Park would be a great fun addition to the amenities about which a summer resort town such as ours could boast.
I fully support the idea.
However, the location of the park and full particulars about its installation and operation deserve a much fuller and far more transparent consideration than council has, to this point, provided.
For safety’s sake alone, a major addition to this small beach with its very limited parking at the intersection of three very busy major routes (Kingfisher, 89th Street and 62nd Avenue) deserves more consideration.
Our children and our summer visitors’ children deserve more.
David Smith
Osoyoos, B.C.
