People came and went during the Save Skaha Park Society’s Earth Day event, but at the end of the day in the park, 720 people had joined the 1,400 already on the society’s membership roster.
Spokesperson Lisa Martin said they were overwhelmed with the response to their membership blitz.
“We’re looking forward to the remaining 99 days of our campaign and have every intention of making our target of 10,000 members,” said Martin.
They’ve set a goal of 10,000 members in response to a suggestion from their lawyer, that the more people they have signed up, the more a judge will see the group as representative when their civil suit to block development in the park reaches court.
Last September, the society filed a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court, challenging the lawfulness of a deal the City of Penticton made with Trio Marine Group giving the company a 29-year lease on nearly six acres on the eastern side of the park, where they had planned to build a water slide complex.
Gerry Karr, a director of the Save Skaha Park Society, said the city still hasn’t filed a response to their civil claim, despite a statement from Mayor Andrew Jakubeit in November 2016 that the city was close to being ready to file. “It has gone on for months,” said Karr.
“We can’t be sure why they are delaying their response, but it doesn’t hurt us. As long as that case is before the courts, nothing is going to happen to disturb the park.”
Jakubeit said the delay is because Trio Marine Group is named in the suit along with them.
“We are really trying. Right now it is up to Trio to gauge their resolve whether they continue, modify or abandon, particularly the water park,” said Jakubeit.
Karr said it could take up to 18 months for the civil claim to make its way through the court system.
“There is also time for the city to take a second look at their position. There is nothing to stop them from revisiting this if they want to,” said Karr, adding that the society told the city they are open to discussion about ending the dispute in a way that cancels the expansion into Skaha Lake Park.
“That is what we are hoping to do is to find some common ground on how to proceed,” said Jakubeit. “As the summer season starts to approach, I would like to have a bit more definitive direction.
“We want to move forward. There are other things to get excited about.”
Karr also extolled the virtues of a passive park, noting that it has health as well as environmental benefits.
“This park is natural capital. It belongs to the people of this city, paid for by our taxpayers. It has trees, grass and the waterway that all help contribute to our environment,” said Karr. “A big water slide, 50 feet high, is going to take that all away from us. It will ruin the park, it will ruin the peaceful natural setting of this absolute gem of a park, and we will never get it back again once they pour the concrete pads for that huge water slide.”
