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City not playing ball
Ton of Fun says city not living up to assurances by Richard Gleeson
NNSL (Feb 27/98) - The owners of a new kids' fun centre say the city will be cutting into its business by building it's own preschool play area.
"We're greatly opposed to the idea of the city putting a play
structure into the library," said Gordon Oystrek, who told council Monday
he has invested his life savings in the business.
"I'm opening my doors in a week and I can't compete with
this, with city tax dollars."
Oystrek said the mayor and several city staffers he talked
to when he was thinking of starting the business assured him the proposed
new community centre complex and twin-pad arena would not compete with his
business.
The city is proposing that part of that complex will be a
room that will serve as a passive play area for children from one to three
years of age.
Oystrek's main concern is that the plan will spin out of
hand. Currently $100,000 has been budgeted for the play area.
But Trudy McConnell, representing a group of parents with
preschoolers, said that's more than the city will need.
McConnell said she's envisioning a play area consisting of
a large room with a $3,000 children's climber and tables for parents.
"This is something that will not at all be in competition
with the type of venue Mr. Oystrek is starting," said McConnell.
"Just because there's a book store, we don't refuse to fund
a library," she added.
McConnell said the group she represents thinks that the
proposed play area, which will be part of a new library, will be unsuitable
for the facility because of the noise children will make. |