Re: Waterfront is waiting, Editorial, March 23.
Why not make the land in question the Nanaimo Quay? Local transit, shuttle service, taxi and international buses, a green space, shops that sell locally made items, a smaller version of a First Nation long house to showcase their history related to the development of Nanaimo, arts and crafts. Events involving the different ethnic groups and their heritage to Nanaimo.
This would be within walking distance of downtown Nanaimo. Make parts of Commercial Streets car-free. (The city can collect money from the close-by parkades). This would benefit the downtown merchants as well. Our cruise ship passengers would enjoy seeing Nanaimo, not a shopping mall.
E. McGrath
Nanaimo
Re: Petition seeking support for Mount Benson gondola, March 30.
Nicholas Pescod hit the nail on the head when he suggested a theme park was the way to provide the attraction the city needs, and his subsequent article on a proposal for a tram for Mount Benson is the perfect complement.
Picture a green and pleasant historical park at Port Place with gardens and picnic spots, cafés, a bakery and ice-cream parlour overlooking the harbour, with attractions that reflect the history and culture of the First Nations people, the development of coal mining, with the huge involvement of the Chinese community, the growth of the logging industry, the current developments of the wineries and the pleasure boat industry, all with the involvement of local groups. Those who are familiar with Calgary’s Heritage Park will understand how such a park can grow slowly and economically. Thus it would provide employment year-round to maintenance, catering and management staff, casual labour jobs and summer jobs to university and high school students.
There could be harbour tours to Newcastle Island, Departure Bay, the Dinghy Dock Pub and Galiano Island, while a seaplane operator might offer sightseeing flights. At the same time, tour operators would see the possibility of creating bus tours to Tofino, to Milner Gardens, Qualicum and Coombs, to the wineries, to Chemainus for theatre, to Parksville for the sand castle competition and so on.
Travellers love to get an overview of a place they visit so a trip to the mountaintop will be a must. There could be a shuttle bus between the park and the mountain tram, with stops on the way on Commercial Street, Bowen Park and Old City Quarter.
All possible without a huge up-front cost.
Jim Russell
Nanaimo