Dear Editor:
Jason Cox, president of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, stated that the waterslide development “is not a loss of public space, it’s an enhancement of public space” (Herald, July 30). Enhancement?
A public space is a social space that is open and accessible to all people. Well, ripping up decades old trees and tearing up grass and putting a fence around it to keep people out, unless they pay, is not an enhancement.
As well, how is destroying the current beautiful space and replacing it with a 60-foot monstrosity with plastic slides (which will be vacant for up to eight months per year), and a fence around it an enhancement? It is anything but an enhancement, it is pure and simple a repugnant destruction of a beautiful area.
I am not opposed to the waterslide, but I am vehemently opposed to destroying a beautiful public space owned by the people of Penticton with an eye sore that will more than-likely fail as the previous two did, and will end up being an albatross around the neck of the citizens of Penticton.
Put it somewhere else!
Duane Martin
Penticton