To the editor:
I cannot understand the opposition to owning a 50-km recreational corridor along Wood and Kalamalka Lakes. They don't want the municipality to borrow $2.6 million to purchase the rail line right-of-way from CNR, to be covered by an average tax increase of $27 per household.
Out of curiosity, I checked the costs of some other recreational opportunities.
If my wife and I take our two grandchildren to the H2O water park in Kelowna, it will cost us over $30, for a single day (or less, if the children tire). Roughly the same cost would apply to the Atlantis Water Park north of Vernon.
Or we could go to Scandia amusement park in Kelowna. For just under $100, the four of us could have pop, pizza, and either mini-golf or a go-cart ride. For one afternoon.
The steam train at Summerland is slightly cheaper. Tickets for four will cost us about $75 -- plus a one-hour-plus drive each way.
We could go skiing for a day up at Big White. Day passes there will cost us a mere $264.
And the real winner is the Oyama Zip line -- the four of us would pay $376 to have three hours of fun.
And all of those are one-time expenses. If we enjoy the experience, it will cost us the same amount all over again.
But we can take hiking or biking on the recreational rail-trail 365 days a year, for just $27. No surcharge for extra people!
I work that out to 7.4 cents per household, per day. Skipping a single large coffee at Tim Hortons would cover over 50 days usage of the recreational trail!
The rail trail acquisition strikes me as the deal of a lifetime. I can't imagine how anyone in their right mind could oppose it.
Jim Taylor, Okanagan Centre