Let's face it, there's only one logical buyer for Kwantlen's half of Paterson Park.
No, I don't mean Sean Hodgins. Or Ron Toigo. The Corporation of Delta is the one and only buyer that makes sense now the post-secondary institution has announced it's ready to divest itself of the property its held for almost two decades.
There are a host of reasons why the old harness track at the corner of Ladner Trunk Road and Highway 17 needs to be in public hands, not the least of which is the fact it acts as the entrance to Ladner.
It's better the municipality creates a fitting gateway to the community than leave that crucial decision in the hands of a private developer. Townhouses and condos aren't really the welcome mat most would like to see there.
Given that Delta already has title to the western half of the site, it also stands to reason so much more could be accomplished if the entire property were in the hands of a single owner.
A wide variety of potential uses - everything from recreational to cultural - had been bandied about shortly after Delta acquired its half of the park, possibilities that would only grow if more acreage was in play.
The fact Paterson Park is adjacent to the civic precinct and all its public institutions makes it a natural to become home to similar uses. The site has been a public amenity, in one way or another, for more than a century, so it would be a shame not to continue that history.
I realize there would be a significant cost to acquire the park and even more to actually develop it, but if Delta can find money to buy waterfront property, to dredge the river, to build artificial turf fields and more, surely the folks at municipal hall can rustle up the cash to pull this one off.
I know they pride themselves on a pay-as-you-go approach, and are loath to add anything to Delta's continually shrinking debt, but opportunities like this don't come around too often. I'd hate to see this one disappear forever because of a lack of vision.
It's too bad Kwantlen Polytechnic University is giving up on its plans to build a campus in South Delta, although I can't say it comes as too much of a shock given the size and location of our community as well as its modest growth projections.
A local campus is a nice idea, but like movie theatres and car dealerships before it, it's not necessarily a good fit in these parts.
Perhaps that loss can be buffered if something even better takes its place.
