A Coldstream park overrun by weeds is being repaired, but a long-term solution isn’t clear.
The Regional District of North Okanagan will spend $3,000 to bring the ball diamond at Creekside Park up to standard after weeds left the facility in poor condition.
“We will restore the diamond to a usable state,” said administrator Trafford Hall.
The problem of weeds surfaced after the District of Coldstream banned the use of herbicides and pesticides in the municipality in 2009.
While manual labour was used initially to control weeds, it appears those efforts didn’t continue.
It’s expected resurfacing and new shale will cost about $3,000.
However, it’s undetermined exactly how RDNO will ensure weed growth won’t occur again.
Coldstream has demanded that RDNO use a federally approved organic pesticide or herbicide to control weeds along the base paths.
But there are differences of opinion on what the term organic means as all compounds are organic in nature, but there may still be an environmental impact.
“Whether it is Roundup or other federally approved chemicals, yes (we will use them),” said Hall.
“If you talk to the people who approve herbicides, they will argue it is environmentally friendly.”
But at least one politician isn’t sure staff actions are consistent with Coldstream’s wishes not to put chemical substances into the environment.
“We’re going to clarify the situation,” said director Doug Dirk.
Director Gyula Kiss wants mechanical control of weeds, such as picking by hand, utilized.
“I don’t know why it’s that difficult to maintain it without herbicides” he said.
RDNO staff, though, says hoeing of the Creekside baseball diamond will cost $6,000 a week and dragging the site will be $5,809 a week.
Concerns about the Creekside Park infields have come from the Vernon Baseball Association.
“It presents some real challenges to our young ball players,” said president Mark Batchelor in a recent interview.
“There’s significant risk for them and they don’t want to slide, there’s fear of tripping.”
