By Armchair Mayor

Nature park still the best use for McArthur Island golf property

Sep 25, 2018 | 5:00 AM

ONE ISSUE THAT will help separate the bold from the timid in the Kamloops civic election has already come up — what to do with the old McArthur Island golf course property.

The question was asked at last weekend’s Farmers Market election forum and it will almost certainly be raised again in other candidates’ forums or in the seemingly endless questionnaires that shower beleaguered candidates during these campaigns.

According to a CFJC news story, a report on the golf course land might come before council next month, possibly before the election, but in time for debate during the campaign. And, of course, councils have a way of postponing decisions on controversial issues until after election day.

The question of whether the Kamloops Naturalist Club and the Kamloops Disc Golf Club can live happily together on McArthur Island has been thrashed out over the summer.

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The upshot is that it doesn’t look like they can. The Naturalists sound as though they aren’t crazy about having a new disc golf course cheek by jowl with their plan for a nature park, and it looks like they’ve got the upper hand.

The property is perfect for a low-cost, low-maintenance nature park. And that was the public’s first pick during a consultation process.

As I said back in May, a passive, natural park would provide the broadest use for the most people.

Politically, it will be a tough one, but not all that tough. I’ll wager that a lot more people would be upset if both disc golf and a nature park are combined on the site than would be if disc golf is sent elsewhere. And, of course, the disc golf club and City can still work together to find another location.

Meanwhile, it’ll be interesting to see who among the candidates for council has the stones to take a clear stand on this issue. It might well be an indication of how willing they are to be decisive, rather than evasive, on other issues as well.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.