Delta has enough on its plate without trying to purchase the remainder of Paterson Park.

That's what the Mayor Lois Jackson had to say about the possibility of Delta buying the roughly 10-acre section of the former harness race track currently owned by Kwantlen Polytechnic University, which has decided to sell the parcel at the entrance to Ladner.

"I'm not sure that we would simply want to have the land for the land's sake. We've got so many other things on our plates, like dredging the (Ladner) harbour for starters, buying up the piece of property at the corner of Arthur Drive (at Ladner Trunk Road). We've got so much going on already, I don't think we'd go into something like that," said Jackson.

"I'm just looking at the bottom line for the tax bill right now," she said.

Delta owns roughly half the park at the corner of Ladner Trunk Road and Highway 17, while the university owns the other section.

Kwantlen purchased the eastern section from the Delta Agricultural Society for $3.5 million in 1993. When the announcement was made that year, then mayor Beth Johnson described the deal as "one of the best things that's ever happened to Delta."

Society president Gordon Huff at the time said although there had been generous offers over the years for the land, Kwantlen's offer and intentions made the most sense for the community.

The university purchased the site with the goal of building a campus, however, the land has sat vacant ever since.

A spokesperson for Kwantlen recently confirmed the post-secondary institution has expressed an interest in selling the land.

Noting the number of graduating high school students has declined in Delta, Joanne Saunders said the board of governors and its administration determined there isn't sufficient demand to justify the development of a fifth Kwantlen campus.

She said the decision was made to sell the parcel "so that it can be put to use by the new owner for the benefit of South Delta."

She said the university "will do everything it can to ensure that the historical importance of the site is respected and preserved for South Delta residents in general and members of the Delta Agricultural Society in particular."

The eventual purchaser of the property will have to apply for a change in zoning and for a development application, she explained.

Coun. Bruce McDonald, noting the land is zoned for public use and may still have a covenant attached, isn't so sure a private buyer would have much luck changing the designation.

"It's restricted. They bought that at a lower price from the agricultural society and there were some restrictions built into that. It was sold to them in order to provide an opportunity for post-secondary education in Delta. Somebody better look at that agreement," he said.

McDonald, who was on council when Kwantlen bought the land, said he'd be interested in Delta owning the entire site. Where the money would come from is another matter, he said.

Coun. Scott Hamilton, also noting the location and zoning could make the parcel a difficult sell, said he'd be interested in exploring the possibility of Delta acquiring the site.

"I would think if the price is right. That much land contiguous to the land we already own could serve considerable community benefit... it would be a tough piece of land for private interests to do anything with."

The park has been generally dormant for the last 40 years, although for decades prior to that it had been home to a popular harness racing track. After racing ended several proposals were pitched for the land, including a shopping mall and a recreation centre.

In 1999, the municipality, after lobbying by the group Friends of Paterson Park, purchased the remaining 12 acres for $5.25 million. Delta then formed a task force that heard a wide range of community submissions on what should be built there.

Some of the proposals at the time, and what's been pitched since, include the Ladner Business Association wanting a multi-use outdoor recreation area, a Delta Millennium Committee plan that included a cultural centre, home for a new Delta Museum and Archives facility and the Delta Hospice Society asking for part of the site to be dedicated for a palliative care centre.

Citing a lack of money and the fact the park ranks low on the municipal priority list, efforts to develop it have been put on the shelf by council.

"I think unless we had a real identified need, we probably wouldn't go ahead and do anything with that," Jackson said. "Perhaps it will be a legacy for a future council."

Paterson Park was formerly known as the fairgrounds before it was renamed in 1951 to honour A.D Paterson, a former reeve for 29 years and MLA for eight years. He was also honourary president of the Delta Agricultural Society, which originally purchased the land in 1902.