To the editor:
Re: "West Point Grey lawn bowlers get ready to roll," April 26.
While the story is all warm and fuzzy, it leaves out some very important facts like the sweetheart lease deal they have with the Vancouver Park Board.
Individual lawn bowling clubs in Vancouver pay only $1 a year for the exclusive use of their clubhouses, lawn bowling greens, associated buildings and grounds.
While clubs are responsible for ongoing light maintenance the park board has spent millions on the buildings and grounds of these facilities with no hope of cost recovery. The park board and city have ensured clubs can sell alcohol and lease halls for profit, profits that are not returned as general revenue to the park board.
With children now being subjected to increased fees for softball and soccer, I'm sure there are plenty of youth clubs and organizations that would embrace loonie a year rates for private use of parkspace in exchange for some painting, cutting the grass, cleaning the washrooms and emptying garbage cans.
Most of the lawn bowling clubs are located on extremely valuable West Side real estate. With low membership levels there's clearly more than needed. Reducing the number by one would bring millions of dollars that could go towards addressing greater needs city-wide such as keeping community centres open on holidays.
George Brissette, Vancouver
