VERNON, B.C. – The City of Vernon and the Okanagan Equestrian Society exchanged proposal this week as the two side continue to disagree over what the future of Vernon’s Kin Race Track should look like. Both sides says they want to see the issue resolved but their visions for the space going forward remain very different.
“We are coming from two totally different directions as far as potential resolutions of this but again if we get that discussion going maybe we can find some sort of combination of what is being offered from the two sides that works,” says Okanagan Equestrian Society spokesperson Ed Woolley.
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Read More: Both sides push for resolution to Kin Race Track dispute
The society used to operate horse racing at the track and Woolley would like to see that resume.
“Our hope is to have continued racing on the track and have a resolution that leads to the rebuilding of the facilities. Right now the insurance proceeds are being held by the city after the burning down of the racetrack [grandstand] so we are sort of in a stalemate. We can’t proceed on with our business down there until such time as we have the facilities rebuilt,” says Woolley.
Meanwhile, Vernon’s mayor has different hopes for the space.
“Ultimately, I’d like to see what is best for our community and that is take that land and create it into something that everybody can enjoy,” says Akbal Mund.
Neither side will discuss what is in the proposals. However, the Equestrian Society says it plans to discuss the city’s proposal at its annual general meeting this Saturday.
In July 2014 the Equestrian Society announced they wouldn’t be holding races at the track that summer. Within days of that announcement, the grandstand burnt down in a suspicious blaze. It was one of a large number of suspicious fires in the region that year.
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