Re: "Chestermere CAO issues statement on Lakeside Greens proposal," article, Feb. 9
Dear editor,
We moved to Chestermere in 1997 when the population was about 2,000 people. We were attracted to Chestermere by the beautiful Lakeside Greens Golf Course and the attractive Lakeside Greens housing development, which boasted wide streets, spacious lots and a variety of housing styles. At the time, the three main recreational facilities in the town were the golf course, the lake and the Chestermere recreation facility.
Twenty-four years later, the population of Chestermere has increased ten-fold to now 22,000-plus residents. What are the three main recreation facilities today? The same three as in 1997. Granted, there have been additions in the form of bike paths, etc., but to lose Lakeside Greens would be a major blow to the local recreation options available, and one less amenity to attract people to our city.
When we look around at Olds, Carstairs, Airdrie, Cochrane, Strathmore, Langdon, Okotoks, High River, Turner Valley and Nanton, they all have a local golf course or two. Many of these have a smaller population than Chestermere, yet are all able to maintain their golf courses.
When we look to the west side of Chestermere, we see developments that will include more than 5,000 new homes in the coming years. Calgary has plans for five more developments by the East Hills shopping centre. How many more homes do we need in this area that we need to destroy an existing golf course to build more?
With the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place in 2020, golfing was one of the few sports able to operate. Golf courses all over Alberta saw an increase in participation and introduced a number of new participants to the sport. It appears that 2021 will continue in the same manner and should spur an increased interest in the sport.
And with the number of new homes coming to Chestermere, there should be a number of new participants to support Lakeside Greens Golf Course.
In a recent interview with CBC News, Peter Paauw of Slokker Homes made some remarks about Lakeside Greens Golf Course that made it sound like it was a farmer's field. He said there were better-designed courses for those interested in playing golf. If this were true, why was there such a great increase in tee-times at this course in 2020?
I imagine if you asked anyone in the Lakeside Greens housing development what they would prefer, to live alongside a golf course or to live in front of some condos, they would choose the former.
I believe Slokker Homes is trying to discourage people from coming to play at the course this summer to give the company more reason to turn it into a housing development. The citizens of Chestermere need to stand up and ensure we do not lose this recreational amenity.
Jim Moir
Chestermere
