Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion
A group of residents in the O’Connor Crescent area have presented their concerns to the town’s elected officials regarding a proposed park project.
The residents appeared as a delegation at a town council meeting on Jan. 14 concerned about the possibility of a BMX area being built at O’Connor Park. The BMX area was one of the options for an oddly shaped parcel of municipal reserve land attached to the park.
Jeff Belitski, a resident whose backyard is next to the park, addressed council as the chosen speaker from the delegation. He presented a range of concerns to suggest that the land is not a suitable location for a BMX park.
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The delegate started by telling council that the Town of Kindersley does not maintain the parcel of municipal reserve land, so “weeds are always out of control.” He said the residents have used their own money to maintain the space. He asked how residents could trust the town to maintain a BMX park if regular park maintenance is overlooked.
Belitski said localized flooding is also a concern for several residents whose yards are attached to the park. He said people’s yards flood after rain events and even if the town does not build a BMX park, the drainage concern has to be addressed.
He noted that several of the property owners have fences next to the space and if a fence is damaged by someone using the BMX park, he wondered who would be responsible for the damage. He asked if the town just wants to fill the space because adjacent property owners wanted to purchase the land.
Belitski suggested two alternate locations for a BMX park in Jurassic Park or south of the town’s baseball diamonds. He said the residents are not opposed to a BMX park in Kindersley, but they strongly believe O’Connor Park is not a good location.
“It’s too small,” the delegate said, adding that any motorists and people using nearby roads would not be able to see an injured BMX rider lying on the ground in the park. “This isn’t the right place for it.”
Councillor Randy Ervine mentioned the NIMBY acronym for “not in my backyard” and how it could be applied to other local situations in recent years, but the councillor said he tends to agree with the points being made by the delegation. Ervine said he does not believe a BMX park should be built on the land parcel.
He asked the delegate if water in yards is always a problem when it rains, or if it is only a problem after a major storm. Belitski said drainage is always a problem after it rains and other members of the delegation shared stories of water in yards and basements.
Belitski said the land would need to be built up to solve the drainage concern. He noted that the residents would be fine if nothing is done to the green space, but only as long as the town maintains the grass and weeds.
Deputy Mayor Shaun Henry, who was running the meeting with the mayor away on holidays, said the concerns with drainage had not come to the council table before, so it was a new concern for council members. He said the town ripped out a hedge to open up the space, but town employees might not have known the space was theirs to maintain.
He noted that there is a trend in Kindersley when it comes to new developments in residential areas. He said groups of residents have stood opposed to various developments, so it is a concern for town officials because they want to see new developments.
Henry pointed out that the town put out door knockers to residents around the park to propose the idea of doing something with the space, but the comments were not favourable. He said one comment suggested any new park feature would attract more kids. He said it is a park, so it should attract kids.
Councillor Elyse Moss assured the delegation that no firm decisions have been made regarding a BMX park or any other amenity for the space. She stressed that if the residents have any other concerns, they should contact the town.
Moss said the land is dedicated for green space, so there are processes to follow and the town cannot sell the land without meeting other legislative requirements. She said council is open to suggestion and she asked if a green space with picnic tables would be better.
Belitski said he likes the idea as long as the space is maintained properly. Council and delegates continued to discuss ideas and drainage, and council suggested that the town will be looking at the drainage concerns in the future.
Other council highlights
Council members have passed resolutions to direct town officials to enter into a pair of agreements including a lease agreement and a software agreement.
The first agreement involves a lease at the Kindersley Regional Airport. Two lots have been purchased by W. Galbraith Farms Ltd., but the company does not own a hanger on the lots and the lease agreement is for the use of the hanger, noted Deputy Mayor Shaun Henry.
The other agreement is for recreational software from PerfectMind Inc., a software company in British Columbia. Henry said the software will support online services for the Kindersley Aquatic Centre and community services department.
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