Your statement that “a multi use residential, commercial and civic hub that could have included a new downtown library branch ” was misleading in the context of this article.

I should also point out that neither of VV’s online discussion threads concerning Cridge Park reflect the broader community’s views on this issue. Instead I’d suggest readers visit cridgeparkrescue.com to obtain a more genuine insight into the community’s response to the past council’s proposal to build on parkland.

Fact: the lawn bowling field in downtown is empty every time I pass by. It has only been occupied a handful of times over the years based on my recollections. And the park next to the lawn bowling field is void of life even more unless camps of homeless persons spring up.

To clarify, nowhere in this article is it alleged that Cridge Park or the lawn bowling green were at one point slated for use as a public library, either by the GVPL or Victoria’s City Hall.

For the purposes of this article, the Crystal Garden block was chosen as an example of a canceled plan to re-utilize downtown land. Hopefully the same fate does not meet the plans to re-utilize Centennial Square and locate a central library there.

For anyone interested in the community’s response the re-utilization of the downtown lawn bowling field, please refer to the following VibrantVictoria.ca discussion thread: http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=2354

1) There is no mention of a new possible library in the Crystal Garden Block document referred to in this article. It was never in the mix. A new AGGV satellite gallery or a Children’s Museum were the only public facilities considered in the RFP offered for these properties.

2) Victoria City Council removed Cridge Park for consideration of development in this RFP after hearing loud and clear from the public that losing this valuable green-space was unacceptable. The Apex site remains in play however.

3) The Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling green is encompassed within Cridge Park, and has been for 78 years. Suggestions that this Park should be developed ran counter to the City’s own Downtown Community plan. There was no public consultation on any aspects of this proposal nor was consideration given to their own policy for no net loss of park-space. The CGB Plan for Cridge Park had no support from the local community and failed on it’s own merit.

4) The Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club’s green enjoys the same level of utilization as any of the 11 other bowling facilities in the Lower Island. Claims that these facilities were under-utilized has never been substantiated and I challenge the author to do so now. This notion was simply a falsehood perpetuated by proponents of development to justify building on a Park. In fact, it can be argued that this green is actually over utilized when comparing hours used vs. numbers of participants vs. sq. ft to any other sports facilities in Victoria.

Suggesting that Cridge Park was ever a potential site for a new central library is a crock. Implying that Council’s action to preserve this Park was somehow misguided in this regard is a political cheap shot. It can only leave one wondering about the validity of the rest of the content and Mr Kozakowski’s own bias.

Lorne Carnes