This letter was sent to mayor and council and shared with Pique.
I listened to the presentation to the Resort Municipality of Whistler as to the new Rainbow Park plans and am not convinced. Please reconsider.
On a quiet day (about 200 days a year), I enjoy the natural setting of beach, grass and dock. I will now be denied access for months, and then look at many new structures and an asphalt bike path close to the water. On medium days (about 11), we will create biker/walker/swimmer interaction at more places than the entrance point and water fountain. On busy days (less than 30), far fewer people will be able to enjoy the grass, as it will be much reduced by asphalt and sit-down structures.
The needed improvements could be done for much less, leaving B.C.’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) tourist dollars available to build a new outdoor-indoor racket sports facility at Spruce Grove or Meadow Park, over a paved parking lot 7 and 8, or in the empty Village 8 Cinemas space.
Also, we could do the reduced work in the spring and fall and avoid a Rainbow Park closure for a year. So sad and disappointing!
[Editor’s Note: While the closure timeline has yet to be finalized, the RMOW indicated construction would likely last either from this spring to the fall, or the fall until spring 2024.]
Michael Blaxland // Whistler
