It's truly a shame that civic politicians appear to have closed the door on the idea of acquiring the other half of Paterson Park.
Much has been made lately of preserving our past. It's why Delta bucked up in a big way to save a century-old barn and why the fall of every old farmhouse is publicly lamented. As far as historic sites go, however, I'm not sure there's one that can match the old racetrack at the entrance to Ladner.
Not only is Paterson Park at a prominent location that thousands pass by daily, but the half-mile track that rings the property dates back to the late 1800s when harness racing was in its infancy in these parts. That track was established within a decade of Delta being incorporated way back in 1879, so when you're talking about historic sites, it's among a select few.
Yet there's reluctance by Delta council to buy Kwantlen's half (Delta already owns the western portion), the price being the obvious stumbling block. Assessed at $11 million, the site is too rich for municipal leaders, who don't want to go into debt to make the transaction happen.
I have to give Mayor Lois Jackson's administration marks for adopting a payas-you-go approach to civic financing, but, as I've mentioned before, there's good debt and then there's bad debt. Most of us wouldn't own a home if we didn't take out a mortgage, which doesn't strike me as a whole lot different than borrowing in order to acquire a critical piece of Delta's history.
Then there's also the issue of priorities. In the last year or so Delta has spent $4 million on a much-needed animal shelter, another $4 million on a less than imperative upgrade to the intersection of Ladner Trunk Road and Arthur Drive as well as almost $2 million to refurbish and relocate an old barn.
I recognize there were pots of money put aside for such projects and there was also senior government help on the barn restoration, but it's still hard not to compare what we spend our money on and what we don't have the funds to undertake.
The bottom line is that Paterson Park is a big piece of Delta's past, so much so that every effort should be made to ensure it's in public hands in its entirety. Zoning restricts what can be built there and the previous owner, the Delta Agricultural Society, has a say in its future, so it's not like condos or a strip mall are in the cards, but given its storied place in this municipality's history, there's only one logical owner.
