EDITORIAL – The season’s over for the KamLoop; has it been worth it?

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

SO THE SEASON is over for the KamLoop, as we at ArmchairMayor.ca have dubbed it. (It has a little more pizzazz than “Riverside Park Skating Loop” or “Riverside Park Outdoor Skating Facility.”)

It had a good run. Formal post mortems will be held in the coming weeks to look at its successes and failures but the bottom line question is, “Was it worth it?”

After all, $7.16 million ain’t cheap, even though it didn’t come directly out of the pockets of local taxpayers. And there were some glitches, such as a number of falls that required repairs at RIH, and an early absence of skate and helmet rentals.

An ArmchairMayor.ca poll indicated a roughly 60-40 split in opinion, with the bigger number feeling the loop isn’t worth it. Such online polls are limited and not scientific, of course, but this does indicate a split in opinion.

What is the definition of whether a public amenity is “worth it”? Is there a dollar limit? For example, can a $7.16-million skating pond be compared to an arts or sports facility costing hundreds of millions?

Is it different depending on which level of government is paying? Is one form of recreation superior to another?

Hundreds of people greatly enjoyed the outdoor skating experience at the KamLoop. Those folks surely feel it’s been “worth it.” Not everyone likes hockey, or racquet sports, or swimming, or trail walking, but everyone pays for them because they require community investment.

The KamLoop will continue to be enjoyed for many years. I’d say the KamLoop was worth it.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, writes for the Kamloops Chronicle, is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.