Ottawa equestrian park just the start of recreation cuts? | Ottawa ...

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Council isn't rushing to spike recreation programs after agreeing Wednesday to end the city's run at the Nepean National Equestrian Park.

But Mayor Jim Watson is thinking about how some rec programs support core functions of City Hall.

Only two councillors, Diane Holmes and Katherine Hobbs, voted against ending the city's operations at the horse riding facility on Corkstown Rd.

The park was losing on average $140,000 annually. Council agreed to earmark $50,000 to subsidize therapeutic riding programs at other facilities.

Other city-run recreation programs include the municipal campground and Pine View Golf Course. Both are operated by arms-length boards, not parks and recreation.

"I think the days of the city being all things to all people have to end. It's just not financially sustainable," Watson said after the meeting.

"The reason we moved on the equestrian park is the lease came up and we still have a long-term lease with he golf course, which is also (National Capital Commission) land, but it doesn't prevent the board from going and looking at things, like is there a better way to deliver the service. Same with the camp authority."

Watson said it's not about council picking on people who like riding horses, but rather a question of whether it's a core service and if customers have other options.

Pine View has been on a financial rollercoaster and its lease with the NCC is up in 2024.

The municipal campground on Corkstown Rd. is also on NCC land. The lease is up in October 2014.

Each lease only costs the city $1 annually.

The Wesley Clover Foundation ? created by tech mogul Terry Matthews ? has sent the NCC an unsolicited proposal to operate the equestrian park as "Greenbelt Stables."

The foundation is also interested in the campground.

Bay Coun. Mark Taylor chairs the committee overseeing recreation programs and sits on the municipal campground authority. He said whenever the lease is up at the campground, there's a "healthy" discussion about the future.

"We're not there yet. In fact, the campground actually turns a profit which is nice to hear from a city service," Taylor said.

"I don't anticipate this is the leading edge of us getting out of the recreation business, but I think what you saw today is as a result of years of hard work, council finally said we can't get to a point where we're approaching cost recovery, so we can't continue this."

Source: http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/07/11/ottawa-equestrian-park-just-the-start-of-recreation-cuts

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