Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart says the City of Coquitlam wants to work with School District 43 to ensure that a portion of land belonging to the district but used as part of Victoria Park will remain parkland.
The mayor made the assurance during a Twitter chat with board chair Melissa Hyndes on Friday.
"100% of Victoria Park will remain a park.#Coquitlamwants to work with #SD43 to find solution that benefits all our residents. #sd43lln," said Stewart.
The Twitter chat was part of the district's Learning Lands and Neighbourhoods initiative looking into the future of four school properties. In addition to a portion of land at Victoria Park, SD43 is asking the public for input on Coronation Park, a closed school also in Coquitlam, Moody elementary and a portion of playing field at Parkland elementary school.
In an interview with The News, Hyndes said the Twitter chat, in which public officials mostly took part although residents sent in some questions to moderator Diane Strandberg, was just another opportunity to gauge public sentiment on the idea of repurposing school land to raise funds for capital projects.
Hyndes stated during the chat the district is in need of new schools or to rebuild old schools and the province is requiring districts to come up with some of the cash.
The board of education will consider next steps for the initiative at its Jan. 14 meeting.
