PENTICTON – Penticton residents opposed to the development of Skaha Lake Park have stepped it up a notch.
Opponents don’t want to see publicly-owned land turned into a private development, including a restaurant, waterslide and mini-golf.
Now a civil lawsuit has been launched against the City of Penticton and Trio Marine Group Inc., the company behind the planned development.
“Save Skaha Park has hired legal counsel and we have filed our civil claim on Sept. 25 in the BC Supreme Court challenging the lawfulness of the City’s deal with Trio,” says Lisa Martin of Save Skaha Park.
She says it was a last-resort decision to take the matter to court.
“We wish no ill to our mayor and councillors or to Trio but we cannot let this bad decision go unchallenged,” says Martin.
She says council’s decision to lease a portion of the park to a private company sets a dangerous precedent.
“What happens with Skaha could become a precedent for other parks. Commercializing Skaha Park without voter consent would make it a lot easier for this and future Councils to dispose of other parks for commercial interests. We simply can’t stand by and let this happen without a fight,” says Martin.
Penticton council has already signed the park development deal with Trio.
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says he stands by the project, adding the water park and marina expansion will enhance the Skaha waterfront experience.
Construction of the water park is slated to begin in 2018.
Opponents to the park development have been ramping up their protests.
Last weekend, an estimated 1,000 people surrounded the park with a human chain.
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