Like a lot of Whistlerites, I have been watching the gathering Waldorf storm, sparked by a council decision to extend the lease on the land the school is situated on for one final year. Reaction is polarized from apathy to outrage, and at time of writing the lease has been extended an extra year, to 2026, although fine detail seems scarce. I don’t intend to add opinion to this issue; picture framers and op-ed columnists have already done a good job.
There is a community requirement for recreational space. The tennis/pickleball community will need a new home once the Northlands are finally developed as the Whistler Racket Club, home for these activities, will be repurposed/relocated. Representatives of the Mature Action Community are looking for a more permanent, sustainable location to hold recreational gatherings, and Kids Combo Camps, which keep a lot of children occupied providing daycare and great activities, will also need a location. Add the various societies/groups that represent the arts and you have a large swathe of Whistler becoming interested parties.
So here’s the solution. How about building a multi-use recreational amenity centre in Spruce Grove that could house all these activities? Spruce Grove has been designated a recreational space by the Resort Municipality of Whistler. The associated build costs could be picked up by the Northlands developer, which has a commitment to provide a community amenity. The current Whistler Racket Club is operated without any financial burden to the already-hard-pressed Whistler taxpayer. The Whistler Waldorf School will have an activity centre next door, and users of the splendid Lost Lake trails will have a facility option to eat/drink/socialize after their activities.
Even better, drawings already exist illustrating the school and a recreation facility can happily co-exist in Spruce Grove without impinging on the sacred baseball diamonds.
Here’s an opportunity that satisfies so many community interests—all that is needed is leadership and some joined-up thinking.
