To the editor:
Re: "Lawn bowlers get sweet deal," Letters, May 1.
Mr. Brissette's letter regarding the perceived drain on park board funds that the city's Lawn Bowls clubs cause requires an informed response. Clubs do pay rent of $1 per year, but they require virtually no maintenance on the part of park board. The clubs originally owned their own property and decided in the 1950s to turn their land over to the city in exchange for that $1 rent. Clubs are completely responsible for the maintenance of their bowling greens, surrounds, gardens and clubhouses. On top of that, the Granville Park Club recently completed a quarter of a million dollars of repairs and upgrades and not a penny was paid by the Vancouver Park Board (the money, which represents about six years of operating budgets, was raised through the efforts and generosity of its members). All of Vancouver's lawn bowls clubs are private clubs, but they all run as not-for-profit ventures and they welcome anyone who is interested in joining.
Mr. Brissette mentions the rising costs to youth of sports such as soccer and baseball. As a father of two young daughters I well know these costs. For a 12 year old, it costs $280 to play recreational soccer, but only $50 to play the sport of bowls. In fact, bowls clubs offer the people of Vancouver one of the most economical recreations available. The value of the clubs is considerable and their cost to the city is negligible. I would invite Mr. Brissette to come out to my home club of Kerrisdale to see for himself all that the sport of bowls offers.
Dr. John Aveline, Vancouver
