Feds provide $187,500 to Middleton Mountain Park

Infrastructure Canada states "Feds spent $187,500 on this "BC Coldstream Mountain Park" in 2012.

The heading was "Sustainable landscaping that promotes physical activity".

Tell me HOW sustainable landscaping PROMOTES physical activity!
Maybe the Feds are agreeing with Coldstream that ugly paths don't encourage exercise, so a pretty path will.  Never mind.

There's a definition for it:  sustainable landscaping . Doubt you'll find Coldstream's mayor and council up on Middleton Mountain composting grass clippings and pulling weeds by hand, etc. etc.
Several of the residents would be happy (I'm told) to hand them their Roundup sprayers....

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see sustainable landscaping in this photo of the project:

 

The project is explained:  "A park that had been on a lot of wish lists for a very long time is now a reality, with the help of $187,500 from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

Middleton Mountain dominates the landscape for most residents in the northern part of B.C.'s famed Okanagan Valley. Many people can access the mountain area directly from their own homes in the surrounding municipalities of Vernon, Coldstream and Lavington.

A trail looping around Middleton Mountain now provides an estimated 4,000 regular users with a safe, natural outdoor setting for physical activity. The easy access also helps promote a more active lifestyle for the 77,000-plus residents in the region. Local businesses hope it helps promote tourism.

The funding also supported a sports field and improved accessibility to the trail area for people with disabilities.

Incorporating sustainable landscaping and an enhanced wildlife habitat, the park was long overdue in many people's estimations. Mayor Jim Garlick of Coldstream calls the new recreation area a "much needed park facility" and a ""wonderful improvement to the area"."


I don't see 77,000 people using it.
Ever.
Does anyone really believe that 77,000 people would be WELCOMED by residents there?
The list of other "infrastructure" projects in B.C. is here: (scroll down to the list of communities).


The funding "also supported a sports field?" 
Huh?



This successful project is yet another example of creative wording in grant applications by our local governments.  It's fine to get the money (yes, taxpayer money) but the supporting text would make a tree hugger gag.
It's so....so...cheesy.

Local businesses hope it helps promote tourism.
They sure as hell do.
Hurry up, tourists, before there are no more businesses in Coldstream or Vernon!
The Shops at Polson sit half-empty a year after being built, vacancy signs are in every mall, downtown has "For Lease" signs in windows.

And Mayor Garlick wants to use yet more taxpayer money to build a Town Centre in Coldstream so residents can access businesses locally, perhaps on their bikes, without having to drive 3 or 4 miles into Vernon (sigh...)
So that more "for lease" buildings can litter the landscape.

Frankly, I think the next For Lease sign should be on the Municipal Hall in Coldstream.

Far too much fluff and puffery and bullshit comes out of there these years.

Ask any Coldstream resident...almost any stimulated Coldstream resident.