Blueprint for parks

City plan maps
out a strategy

By CRIS LEYKAUF

E LIVE in a spectacular part of

the country, surrounded by

mountains, pristine watersheds,

lakes, forests and more. Just
minutes from Terrace are incredible op-
portunities for hiking, skiing, snowmobiling,
horseback riding, and canoeing.

But while we may have plenty of recreation
opportunities outside the cily, what about the
necd for parks just down the streci? A
playground for children, or a trail for seniors to
stroll along?

A parks study looking at the needs of cily resi-
dents was recently released in draft form. IUs
the first study the city has ever done which
deals solely with parks.

The city’s growing economy and population
prompted the report. This growth has created a
greater demand for a variety of parks in the city,

Currently Terrace has 22 parks, covering al-
most 99 hectares, not including the Terrace Mt.
trail.

. That’s above the minimum 74.4 ha recom-
mended for a cily this size.

However the city has to start putting aside
parks for future use, says Steve Scott super-
intendent of parks and recreation, He’s also the
author of the parks study.

In the study Scott made a number of recom-
mendations, some of which he’s hoping to see
in place as early as this spring.

Ferry Island

On Ferry Island, which is used year-round by
hikers, pet owners, mountain bikers and cross
country skiers, he’s advised improving the trails
and installing pedestrian bridges where needed.
- He’s.hoping that the bridges might be built by
construction classes at Caledonia. In the past
those classes have built bridges over Howe
Creek and done other community projects
around town. The cily then would just bave to
kick in the cost of materials,

“They’re good skookum bridges,’’ says Scott.

Scott’s also recommended extending electrical
service to al least ten more camping siles on the
island,

Riverfront.

One of the reasons Ferry Island is so popular
is due to access to the river, Scott would like to
develop another riverfront park, stretching from
Pear St. west to Braun’s island. The land would
ideally take in the riverbank and go back at least
60 metres. This would let the city create a 2km
or so walk along the riverbank.

A Tiverfront trail isn’t a new idea. Scoll came
across plans for such a trail as far back as 1975
while doing research.

Now he’s. putting the riverfront trail back be-
fore city council. In his report Scott recom-
mended that city council take legislative steps.to
acquire riverfront property.

“As landowners subdivide the city can take a
portion of that land for park preservation,’’ ¢x-
plained Scott. The city is also permitted to
preserve land for environmental purposes,

Or, as property comes up for sale, the city can
buy it where possible.

Eventually Scott would like to see a path
which travels along the riverfront, then goes
over a suspension bridge to Ferry Island.

‘‘But those are very long range plans.’’

The study recommends council ‘‘affirm the
principle that all undeveloped Skeena River
front property should eventually be publicly
contolled.”’

Terrace Mountain

More immediate are plans to secure access to
Terrace Mt. Trail, on it’s northwest end on the
bench.

The trail’s end has already been re-routed
once due to development. Now the new access
crosses private properly twice.

That’s okay with the developer for now, since

PARKS REPORT author Steve Scott stands near the new proposed trail head for Ter-
race Mt. The start of the trail on the north side of Terrace Mt. has been moved a number
of times in recent years due to a property development on the bench. Naw Scott wants to
make a new start to the trail, just past the water tower tank, left of where the trail now
starts, But to do that the city needs to buy that section of land.

those lots haven’t sold yet, but it will soon be-
come a problem.
It’s also confusing for people new to the area,

who are trying to find the trail head. There

arcn’t even any signs up to mark it right now.

“I don’t feel right about saying please
trespass on this guy’s property,’ said Scott,

He hopes to make a new access to the trail,
which would start just past the water tower and
to the left. It’s a plan which would require the
city to purchase the easterly third section of a
block of land belonging to the owner of the
apartment buildings below.

Scott hasn't approached the landowner, but
doesn’t think it should cost the city too much to
purchase vacant, unserviced land which has no
chance of becoming usable in the near future.

West Bench

One section of the city which is in need of
more parks is the west corer of the bench.
Three acres have already been set aside by the
developer, but there has been considerable de-
velopment since then.

However, Scott says until the developer
reaches slage 2 of this plan, no new parks will
be created. And that means it could be a long
wail.

But development will be going ahead on a
park on the east side of the bench.

East Bench

Skeenaview/Heritage Park became a popular
gathering spot in 1993 with the addition of a
children’s playground and five tennis courts,

Now. the city is planning to develop the
remaining land there with the help of the Kins-
men Club of Terrace. They plan to plant
omamental trees and shrubs, and pave an area
for skale boarding, roller blading , basketball
and possibly icc skating in the winter.

Howe Creek
The horseshoe has seen a lot of activity
around Howe Creek lately. A coalition of
citizens recently purchased land adjacent to the
creek, but right now the park is just a collection

_ of properties which straddle the creck between

Sparks St. and Lanfear Hill.

There are still gaps in this land link, and Scott
recommended the city continue trying to ac-
quire property alongside the creek.

Fisherman’s Park

This park on the east side of the Kalum River
is usually packed with trucks and boat trailers
whenever a run of salmon comes up the Skeena.

The area is just 38 hectares, but it is one of
the city’s most popular parks, as it is the only
public boat launch site in Terrace.

The cily leases this land from CN Rail and is
currently negotiating with the railway company
to buy the land.

Price tag

Steve Scott’s wish list seems long, but he says
aside from acquiring land along the riverfront
on the southside, it’s all do-able,

“We're not asking to acquire a lot of land —
other than the riverfront,’’ says Scott.

The cily has over $50,000 set aside to buy
park land, and Scott, and he says more might be
available through other avenues.

“There’s no reason why we can’t meet these
objectives over the next five years.”’

As for the riverfront property, Scott doesn’t
think the land would be of interest to developers
anyhow, It’s in a floodplain, ‘‘and we can al-
ford to be patient,’’ he says.

Although Terrace has a fair amount of park-
land right now, he’d like to see it developed fur-
ther and see more parks linked by trails for
pedestrians and bicyclists.

Bike naths get a low priority

AT LEAST 50 to 150
people walk or bike by Paul
Clark’s house on McCon-
neji every day, most of them
travelling to or from the col-
lege, and some just walking
their dogs. .
. Despite this heavy
pedestrian traffic, there is no
‘bike. path or sidewalk along
this popular street. Many
other busy streets in the city
also jack a vehicle-free area,
says Paul Clark.

He's talked to all levels of
government concerned with
roads and highways about
this lack of bike paths, but
so far response has been
minimal.

T think this is really im-
‘portant for the city,” says
Clark. ‘‘It’s gelling more

‘and more busy, and more

“people are opting to use
“their bikes, ralher than
drive.’”

He's also worried about
the safety of pedestrians, on

more parks are joined 1o one
another,

City planner David
Trawin says the city is still
in the very preliminary
stages of looking at making
bike paths.

“Results are probably a
long way off,”’ he warns.

There is no money in the
city budget now slated to
develop bike paths.

That’s mainly because
there hasn’t been much pub-
lic pressure yet.

‘The majority of people
want to see us clean up the
potholes before we worry
about bike paths,’’ says
Trawin.

However, he did hold out
some hope for those who do
want bike paths.

As new subdivisions go

CARS, BIKES and pedestrians all jockey for room on McConnell Ave. an the
bench, Paul Clark, his wife Karen, thelr neighbours Elfen and Tom Boston and
their children enjoy going for walks along the road, but worry about their families’
safely because there are no sidewalks or bike paths along the road.

in, the city is considering
having the developer put
money aside for bike paths
and sidewalks,

And as roads around Ter-

busy hills, such as Kalum

race are slated to be re-dane,

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 10, 1996 - AS

|
CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

atid Lanfear.

“Certainly for me with
my (wheel)chair, it’s chaos
to try and get up and down
those hills."

‘recently

But despite Clark’s re-
quest, and those of other
concerted pedestrians, a
released draft
parks’ study doesn’t make

any rccommendations for
bike paths.

That’s because the
report’s author Steve Scott
says bike paths aren't part

of the park system.
However, Scott does ac-
knowledge that bike routes
will be in greater demand as
the population grows and

such as Lanfear Hill, Trawin
says the city will consider
putting in sidewalks at that
time.

The Mail Bag

Nisga’a fell into a trap

Dear Sir:

The signing of the Nisga'a Agreement In Principle
(AIP) was truly a historic event. But it was an event
that has taken place many times before in Canada.
Upon signing this agreement the Nisga’a have fallen
into the same trap as their eastern brothers and sisters,

The treaties in eastern Canada, although much shorter
and less specific, have much in common with what has
been proposed in the AIP.. The: rights of ‘‘Indian’’
people are again being impeded and narrowed by west-
em thought and law.

Native people are again being shown as grateful
recipients of a deal which is nothing more than
manipulation by a government who needs to keep na-
tives quict and happy. It must be a coincidence that an
election is coming up soon.

Nisga'a negotiators were forced into this farce of an
agreement due to a volatile political climate. If the
agreement had not been signed now, it may never have
been,

Thus, under this type of pressure it is understandable
that a deal was hammered out, however haphazardly,
This tactic by the government was no different than the
eastern treaties where ‘‘Indian’’ people were told to
sign or face the wrath of the King. History has shown
us that wrath.

Another similarity to other treaties is that a few are
speaking for many. Sure, many will say 90 per cent
voted in favour of the AIP, but this was 90 per cent of
525. What about the other 5,000-plus Nisga’a people
whom this deal affects.

Traditionally, Nisga’a people came to consensus
when deciding about something which affected all.
Now we sce less than 10 percent speaking for an entire
nation,

It seems that the Nisga’a have fallen prey to the west-
ern democratic system which follows majority rule.

In this case not even a majority is ruling. The Nisga’a
have supposedly endorsed a deal which will take away
over 90 per cent of lands which people in their nation
have belonged to for thousands of years. Who decides
what land and what stories will be sacrificed?

Land is the key to a traditional form of self-
government not the few dollars thrown at the people
like a carrot before a horse. Only the land, which car-
ries the spirits of all those who have suffered under
non-native tyranny, can heal ithe wounds of the past.

But again money is thrown at a people who have
been beaten down by years of abuse. Don’! fall into
this tap. Please consider your ancestors and loved ones
who still roam these Jands through the spirit realm.

Consider your brothers and sister, the Tsimshian, the
Gitksan, the Gitanyow, the Haisla, the bear, the eagle,
the raven and the wolf, all whe will be affected by this
agreement.

Like any other animal being trapped, don’t be
deceived by the bait, Once deceived, the jaws of the
tap will mean certain death. In this case the death of &
people. boa

It is ironic that a deal which is so bad for the Nisga’ a
is being shunned by non-natives, This deal gives little
to the Nisga’a as it is filled with provisions for the fol-
lowing of codes, standards and laws set out by the Ca-

‘ nadian and B,C, governments,

If this isn’t enough, many parts of the agreement in-
volve cabinet or ministerial approval. This is not con-
trol for native people, it is assimilation. Still, non-
natives say the deal gives too much.

This deal has a bonus for non-natives in thal the fed-
eral government is paying half the bill for a deal which
would create economic stability and benefits for B.C.

If I was a supporter I would try to push it through im-
mediately, But, I am not, so bring on the hearings, the
changes and maybe the Nisga’a will see past the blind
trust inherent in their great culture.

Maybe they will see the manipulation. The Nisga’a
may be caught in the trap but they can still get out.

Glenn Rothenburger,
Kitimat, B.C.

Save Shames Mountain

Dear Sir:

Over the last few months I have been listening to and
reading various comments about the ski bill and of its
financial difficulty and conditions. I have prayed that
somehow it will keep going until it reaches that plateau
from which it will be able to grow and flourish.

I am probably flattering myself to say I am a
mediocre skier, but I think we are really blessed to
have Shames Mountain so close at hand. We previous-
ly lived on Vancouver Island and to go skiing from
there was a major expense that involved cither a mini-
mum of 4 extra hours driving each way or overnight
accommodation. Lift tickets were no less expensive.
The cost of a family ski pass this year at Skames would
have covered maybe four ski days for the four of us.

Because I am not a great skier, I don’t do well in poor
conditions. This year presented poor conditions for
every day winter life — not just skiing.

But whenever [ thought I wouldn’t make full use of
our pass, I thought of it as an investment in Shames.
And was glad to have paid it because I like, really like,
being able to drive up to the hill and ski and be back in
time to meet the kids after school. Or if I go up and
find it's more than | can or want to handle, it was only
an hour out of my day and not a whole day wasted.

Shames is really beautiful. Some days I have gone up
more for a dose of beauly than to ski and have never
felt disappointed.

I hope there is some way the community can help out
financially, not just by buying lift tickets, but in ways
similar to how soccer, softball, skating, swimming etc.,
are supported. Shames may be out of the city limits but
it is Terrace’s ski hill and we ought to be thankful to
those who have committed time, labour and money to
helping us have what isa great bill,

It is only God who controls the weather so we can’t
blame Shames staff for our disappointments. 1, for one,
have never found anyone working on the hill or in the
Shames office to be anything but pleasant and helpful,

And to our city council, I would be very disappointed
to see funds being spent on a second sheet of ice before
finding anyway to help Shames remain the one ski hill
we have,

Lyon Buckle,

Terrace, B.C,