Yellowknife (Apr 20/05) - Proponents of a waterfront park in Old Town were in City Hall Monday, hoping council would throw its weight solidly behind the proposal.

They were offered a mixed blessing instead. Council declined to take a leading role just yet, but asked administration to investigate the possibility of creating a waterfront park to replace the Fisheries and Oceans garage that burned down in January.

The proponents, made up mostly of Old Town residents, say the now empty lot should revert to public use. Some ideas include a kayak launch, community garden, and public market. Fisheries, meanwhile, has already said they plan to rebuild the garage.

"We are on one of the biggest lakes in the world and you cannot see the water," spokesperson Wayne Guy told council.

"That's a sad thing."

Guy said much of the existing waterfront properties along McDonald Drive already belong to the federal government but are under-utilized. He suggested that the federal agencies who use these properties could amalgamate their space, and make do with less.

While council appeared largely in favour of a park - Couns. Doug Witty and Bob Brooks being chief among them - some said they were hesitant to adopt it outright until they're heard from the Coast Guard and Fisheries first, who still hold the lease for the land.

"Why is it that the city needs to lead this," said Coun. Wendy Bisaro.

"If this is time sensitive, maybe you need to do it yourselves, because the city needs to make sure it has all its ducks in a row."

Coun. Alan Woytuik was the lone councillor to vote against a motion to have administration investigate the possibilities for a park.

He said council was moving much too fast for his liking, adding that he thought it was inappropriate to start advocating for public use on what is essentially private land. "Are we going to go rushing in if Mary's Tea Room burns down?" he asked.