If town council never before heard Peter Finch's immortal words, “I'm mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore” from the Academy-award winning movie Network, then they sure know them now.
Council heard them loud and clear on Oct. 15 when it put its plan on the table to unload seven pocket parks. Angry residents packed town hall to say they were indeed mad as hell, and that the pocket parks had to stay.
The town figured this was a great way to increase revenue and expand its tax base. Town officials noted the assessed value of five pocket parks is $399,000, and at least a good portion of it could be reinvested with the rest of the parks inventory. They also said existing playground equipment at the pocket parks could be moved to ones more heavily utilized.
Angry residents did not buy any of it. What the town failed to foresee was the depth of anger citizens showed when there is a threat to green spaces.
Council was told repeatedly and passionately it was just a bad idea, that eliminating green spaces would not only be blight on the visual appeal of neighbourhoods, it would be detrimental for the well-being of children.
Council was also told property sellers would lose as well, as immediately accessible green spaces is a major selling point for any home.
And the idea to turn over one park for a future doctor's residence? It too was scorned. Council was told to check out the for sale signs up in town and any of these homes can be purchased for a new doc instead of raiding the pocket park inventory.
What was entirely missed by town officials was that Sundre residents take great pride in being a community that is an envied green space getaway from big-city living. They are here because they no longer want to live in concrete jungles.
Yes, the pocket parks are small. And yes, the town may have an argument that at least a few are not well utilized. But even if they are not, and even if some lack playground equipment and other park amenities, they remain visually appealing green spaces amidst rows and rows of uninspiring urban looking homes.
The entire situation, if town council turned its back on their passion, is a matter residents would remember with venom at election time. Political careers have been forever lost on issues deemed far less important than the elimination of neighbourhood green spaces.
To be fair, town officials noted there would have been a public hearing no matter what transpired on Oct. 15 as three of the green spaces are designated municipal reserve and legally subject to public hearings.
The motion on Oct. 15 was for first reading only but council was not blind to the huge turnout. The public got an early chance to speak, angry at the notion the town was taking them for granted.
In the end, council backed off, conceding the public had a right to formally present better options at an open house before Dec. 17.
Council blinked, threw in the towel against a storm of community passion. The heart language was loud and clear. The guardians of the pocket parks live on to fight another day.
