To the editor:
It’s sad to see so many of our recreational programs and facilities being neglected or threatened with closure as city hall and council continue to pour money into a floundering waterfront project with no end in sight.
The number of recreational facilities that have been targeted for reduced services or closure over the last several years is lengthy.
Many of these facilities are only open today as a result of the stiff opposition from many concerned taxpayers.
This list would include Municipal Golf Course, Sir Winston Churchill swimming pool, Dease and Heath?Park swimming pools and many of the outdoor hockey and skating rinks.
There is also talk of closing Thunder?Bay’s conservatory, which just happens to grow all the plants for the city’s parks.
A recent visit to the waterfront confirmed my thoughts that millions and millions of hard-earned tax dollars have been wasted here.
It was also interesting to see only a couple of skaters on a warm at beautiful day, skating a tiny rink where hockey sticks and pucks are not allowed and an ice-resurfacer is not really needed.
A skater I talked to pointed out two tall objects near the water’s edge that are more of an eyesore than anything. These are the two lights that cost city taxpayers $900,000.
It’s also been revealed that it is going to cost city taxpayers $600,000 in each of the next two years to manage the waterfront.
This would lead us to the question the public has been asking for serveral years now. What is the underlying problem at the waterfront that is causing the unreasonable delay in the announcement of the hotelier?
With administration pushing for a new multiplex near the waterfront at the site of the current north ward bus terminal, and unlimited funds for the waterfront, city taxpayers can expect more of the same:?higher taxes, fewer services and no substantial reduction on the city’s debt that is close to $200 million, and a waterfront project that is very questionable.
Ray Smith,
Thunder?Bay
