NEW YEARS IN BRACEBRIDGE -

OUTDOOR RINK? TELL YOU WHERE IT USED TO BE - BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S ON IT NOW! WHERE WERE THE DEFENDERS OF JUBILEE PARK WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED?

I READ ALL THE REPORTS AND COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS, IN THE LOCAL MEDIA, ABOUT A PROPOSED OUTDOOR RINK IN BRACEBRIDGE THIS YEAR. BY THE TONE OF IT, GEEZ, IT SEEMED LIKE THE VERY FIRST ONE EVER PROPOSED OR EXECUTED FOR OUTDOOR SKATING ENTHUSIASTS. BUT BY GOLLY, DID ANY ONE OF THE PROPONENTS OF THIS OUTDOOR RINK (WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA), THIS YEAR, OR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, GIVE ONE SMIDGEON OF RECOLLECTION TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS IN BRACEBRIDGE…..AND THE ICE PADS OF ONCE.

WELL HERE'S THE THING, THAT IS ALSO THE TRUTH. THERE USED TO BE A LOVELY URBAN PARK….WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF MANY CENTRE-TOWN NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT PLAYED A WONDERFUL HOST TO TOWN SKATERS, WINTER CARNIVAL ENTHUSIASTS, AND YOUNGSTERS WHO ADORED WHAT FEW AMUSEMENTS IT AFFORDED. JUBILEE PARK WAS ALWAYS MODESTLY APPOINTED THAT WAY, BUT REGARDLESS, IT WAS GENERALLY OPEN SPACE IN AN APPROPRIATE, STRATEGIC, IMPORTANT PLACE IN AN URBAN-EXPANDING COMMUNITY.

DID ANY OF THE COUNCILLORS, OR THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE BEHIND THE PROJECT, ON PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY, FEEL A LITTLE BIT DIMINISHED WHEN THEY WERE SEEKING TO STRIKE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN, TO FUND A RINK, ON LAND THEY DIDN'T OWN? AT JUBILEE PARK….IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DONE DEAL.

I read all the reports I could, and never saw a single reference (maybe I missed it), to the old days when the Town owned a marvelous park, wonderfully suited to an outdoor rink, but frittered it away because it seemed like a good idea at the time. No, I don't think there was much recollection of this shortfall of insight……despite the fact, town council was begged…..and I mean begged, to reconsider sacrificing town owned property in such an important urban position in the community. A park on the outskirts is fine……it should have been developed as a park anyway. But not as a trade-off, for a central open space that was used by the abutting neighborhoods for more than a century. It was an historic stewardship that should never have been sacrificed.

What makes me mad……and as I live in Gravenhurst, my opinion doesn't count for much, is that so many citizens of that town, stood back, held their opinions, and were prepared to live with the consequences, because the options they were presented with…..seemed "win, win!" Well, if the park supporters had the proverbial pot-to-piss-in, and could have afforded a better defense…..and had some of the armchair critics carrying those placards….like my wife and I did, with many others, maybe today, there would be the familiar clicking and gliding of silver blades, on the outdoor rink these proponents requested. So you see, there are consequences for our actions.