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No play for North Saanich seniors

Parks should be multi-use agree councillors

Parks for the people, all of them, holds more allure than a senior-friendly park in North Saanich.

Councillor Anny Scoones sought to get some more information on the possibility of a seniors park in the district during a November meeting. Council revisited the idea during discussion on the draft Parks Plan presented by the district’s parks commission.

Mayor Alice Finall said she sees the seniors’ wellness park in Sidney as an example.

“I have not seen an extensive use of that,” Finall said, noting it’s across from a seniors’ residence. “I think we need more information as to the extent this rather popular movement has been used and how useful it has been found, the degree to which it would complement the current parks system and recreation centre that we have in North Saanich.”

“I would prefer to see us focus our energies and money on multi-use parks,” said councillor Cairine Green.

“It’s very much an urban model, used because there are not a lot of other activities … We also have Panorama Recreation Centre.”

She noted it’s important to “mix generations in recreation” and not segregate.

Councillor Ruby Commandeur, alongside concern over equipment vandalism issues, said the district should take the opportunity to address accessibility in general in North Saanich parks.

“I personally would like to see the focus put on that, and not seniors equipment,” said Commandeur.