Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 17, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free May 2000 local As Twe decide this is a stupid lets kill it right committee chairman says councillors scrap plans to sell Small Parks by Nick Martin plans to sell off Small City Parks and open space were buried yesterday by City councillors who heeded warnings from Al Golden vital that the proposal could be political if we decide this is a stupid lets kill it right chairman John Angus Norbert told members of the Public works and so they quickly and Vehe Golden told the committee that the plans to sell off 25 Small parcels of land Over the next two years had created fear throughout though not a single private citizen showed up to address yesterdays special staff had recommended identifying through Public consultation 25 of the cites Small pieces of Green or open space which would be offered for maintenance savings of about for each property would be pumped into the Upkeep of other Green the land would have included inaccessible chunks of open space or Sites close to other Green Golden said the City has a property department which traditionally handles the Sale of excess in consultation with the Community and the local that process has worked he Angus pointed out in his the City carved off a Corner of a Park and sold it to the Developer of a seniors Only after the Community several councillors said yesterday that Treyve received Calls on the but not a deluge of Public they echoed Lillian Thomas who said there would have been a significant outcry had specific properties been identified As Sale Ive heard from 12 which is a lot on one said Harvey Smith Daniel who argued that the City should be spending More Money to maintain open and acquire More of especially in the inner Harry Lazarenko Mynarski came to the defence of beleaguered whom he said had been ordered by City Council to prepare the report that was trashed Council wants funding help for playgrounds City says province should kick in by Nick Martin City councillors Are threatening to reject requests to help rebuild playgrounds unless the province Antes up an equal the Public Yorks committee recommended plans to spend on repairs to municipal playgrounds this year As the first phase of what could be a million upgrading of Cit owned play Struc but several councillors warned be unlikely to spend City Money in their wards to rebuild deteriorate fed play structures in school unless the province provides school divisions with hefty Harry Lazarenko Mynarski said he has Sev eral schools in the North end seeking the cites help in rebuilding hell Tell school trustees were not approving this until theres More Lazarenko pointed out that the province reduced fund ing for Street repairs from million to million this and school playgrounds could be payback we strike at them this Don the cites manager of Parks and open said councillors can direct thousands of dollars in Community incentive Grants to playground where parents can raise Matching Harvey Smith Daniel Mclntyre wants the Public works committee and Winnipeg school division Board to lobby education minister Drew Caldwell for playground play is not just you learn from said Jenny Gerbasi fort Rouge said almost All of her wards in annual Community incentive Grants go to Community centres and play the school division puts no Money into the play the City ends up putting Money in through the Community incentive we sometimes pay the biggest piece of it really is kind of offloaded onto the Caldwell could not be reached the cites top three play ground priorities this year Are extensive new structures in Central Park at Edmonton Street and Cumberland a playground at Home Street and Sargent and the West Broad Way recreation Centre at 185 Young earlier this Winnipeg one announced it would remove All or significant portions of play structures at 19 because the equip ment Falls Short of Tough guidelines revised in 1998 by the Canadian standards Nice Mant tora i plan today families budget 2000 shows the government is listening to this financial action plan fulfils Many of the governments commitments to the people of Manitoba by directing funding where it is needed education Public schools Are receiving million More in a 10 reduction on College and University tuition will save Manitoba students million and Community colleges will receive million in new dollars this health care funding to health care will increase million this year to help end hallway reduce waiting hire More nurses and expand key tax Relief budget 2000 provides tax savings for Manitoba households to ensure Manitoba remains one of the most affordable places in Canada to raise for a single income family of four earning will save Over the next three look for your copy of the budget 2ooo highlights being delivered to your find out How budget 2000 will provide tax savings for your household visit our web site at or write minister of finance room legislative building 405 my Rac ov8 Manitoba finance Greg sell Ger minister compare to available in Black or Blue Pulsar compare to available in Navy or White compare to available in Black Price ;