I guess you’ll think I’m a sentimental type but I’ve just seen the ads for “Creekside Estates” and I’d like to say a fond farewell to a piece of land we thought was a park, but will be covered in homes.
Don’t get me wrong, if land is for sale and someone buys it and develops it, well that is business and I’m not against business.
But if a piece of land is situated right at the edge of a public park you can ride your bicycle right through that park and come out on this piece of land with no hindrance, fences or other demarcation. Further, if that land is fitted out with a paved bike trail, the odd picnic table, and good size trees planted at intervals (by the city,) well, you might just be fooled into thinking that this piece of land was a park.
You might look forward to a bike ride that took you from Rotary Park right to the Westerner Fair grounds.
Wouldn’t that be nice!
That’s the way it was for many years, and it was great fun.
What a wonderful city, full of parks and bike trails, all paved and kept in good order by a far thinking city administration and its minions. Good work; well done!
Well, every piece of nice park-like land can’t be park, for heavens sake.
The place where my own house sits, was once a wheat field. Wheat fields are out of style now, houses are in, and that’s what we are going to have. I understand all that.
But it was a nice piece of “park” with a nice grade for bikes, (a little tough and uphill, a little gliding, just a nice workout.)
The creek was nice too. Deer came up there as well as rabbits and other critters. Mustn’t be too soft hearted, they’ll just have to move on.
It would be nice if, in the future, the city decides to pretend something is a park, and they groom it and pave it and picnic table it, they might sign it as well.
Don’t even think of getting fond of this park; its for sale and dammit, one day it will be gone — so get over it.
Thanks, I feel a little better now.
Peggy Freeman
Red Deer