Better late than never is a phrase I will attach to the City plan to give Great Chief Park a makeover.

The ambitious plan calls for work to be done on the football/soccer field, baseball diamonds, and the press box along with the installation of field turf so when there are more than two dark clouds in the sky a football game isn’t being cancelled. I know that sounds a bit sarcastic and it was meant to be as I lived that nightmare for several years as a football coach. We never knew when the staff would cancel and it wasn’t their fault. They were following the direction given by those higher up. I can’t say who gave those people their direction but someone’s GPS was malfunctioning in my humble opinion.

The numbers which showed field turf was the answer to those issues were plain and simple but never acted upon until now. I won’t mention the cost of said turf was much lower than it will be a few years from now. OK, I just did.

Another issue is the fact the majority of these suggestions were made several years ago by the sports and culture groups who use the area. I don’t think you could have found a better group of consultants and they worked cheap.

I sat in on the first meeting along with the two following and we are only now discussing a concept plan-not even the final plan. Nothing in this is written in concrete and more public opinion is being sought. I wonder if at some point the Collicutt Centre issue had frightened some City people. The running track there was not one which track people were looking for from what I recall and the wave pool-well I think most of the pool folk in town could address that issue.

In the meantime, I am left wondering what in the world is causing our City officials from acting on a plan to spruce up what most have labelled a jewel in our fair community.

I understand being cautious and financially responsible but if this park is what they say it is (and I believe it is) then fish or cut bait!

If all this consultation and posturing was done way back in the early stages of debate then we could likely be looking at the new and improved Great Chief Park right now.

I am not going to point fingers or assign blame as that accomplishes nothing. All we can do is hope the people in charge get busy on this one.

I can’t wait to see the end result.

sports@reddeerexpress.com