Tired of being asked time and again what is going to happen with the Garibaldi Springs property, local developer and property owner Doug Day this week disclosed his plan for the 145-acre property - to donate 100 of the 145 acres for a district-owned park.
Since the Garibaldi Springs golf course shut down in May 2010, the property has become overgrown with natural vegetation and overrun by Squamish residents, their children and their dogs, who appear to have already claimed it as their own.
"Head down to my property on any sunny day and you'll see dozens of people there - the children play in the sandboxes that used to be called sand traps, they throw pebbles in the lakes, they're having a great time," he said.
"The public has already adopted this as a park and short of me putting barbed wire around it, I wouldn't be able to keep them out of there."
Instead of fighting a losing battle, Day said he plans to give the public the park as part of an amenity package attached to some plans of his own for the remaining acreage.
"The great bulk of the property that you see - all the flatlands, the beautiful lakes, the streams, the rivers and three miles of trails - would all be donated to the community," he said.
"All of this without the District of Squamish having to lay out one single penny."
The amenity would be part of Day's application to rezone a small section above the 14th and 15th fairways on the north end of the park for housing.
He said half the area is already zoned for housing and he wants permission to build "a few dozen houses" more than what's already allowed under the current zoning. Day is convinced that's not a lot to ask for in exchange for such an "impressive" amenity package.
He said he doesn't plan to develop houses on the land for the next decade, because he already owns lots in the Thunderbird Creek area that have yet to be developed.
"This whole concept all has to go to public hearing and if the public doesn't want it, they won't get it and I'll keep my bloody golf course," he said.
According to Day, one portion of the 45 acres is being sold to The Townline Group of Companies, including a section that would allow the group to complete its desired third access road to the Garibaldi Highlands without having to go near Coho Park. Such a route has been talked about in the past, but plans have been held up because of its potential impact on fisheries.
When contacted, Townline spokesperson Tiffany Duzita said the development group had no comment at the moment because council hadn't approved anything.
"We're not willing to give any comments yet because nothing has been finalized," she said.
Day said as a long-time Squamish developer, he sees this as an opportunity to give back to the community.
"I'm going to try and do the right thing here as this is a vitally important piece of parkland for the people of Squamish," he said.
"I've made very good money in Squamish, I've done well in Squamish and this is my way of donating back to the community."
Day said the park would be district owned and maintained, but the deal is contingent on the district making a commitment to keep the property as parkland.
"Before they get the title, there will be what's called a restrictive title on the covenant barring them from ever developing the property," Day said.
Day said he bought the 145 acres of land for $2 million - "the price of a 33-foot building lot in the Dunbar area in Vancouver."
"I bought the land for an incredibly good price and those savings and that tremendous deal will be passed onto the people of Squamish in the form of about 100 acres of park," he said.
"And it doesn't cost Squamish one penny to develop the park because it's already there."
Day said all the park requires is re-labelling - cart paths become trails, water hazards become lakes, sand traps become sandboxes and so forth. He argues that that has essentially already happened.
Kelly Jensen and Roger Sarrasin, who live near the former golf course, were taking a stroll through Day's property on Friday (May 13) and both said they were grateful to be able to use the area.
"It's great having this amount of green space accessible so we don't have to be walking on the street, especially with the little one," said Jensen, gesturing to the baby in the stroller she was pushing.
Jensen said she's integrated the "park" into her lifestyle, and normally walks the loop three times a week.
When asked whether she would support Day's proposal, she said it was a good start but she would need to hear the specifics of the area he plans to develop.
Day hasn't officially submitted a rezoning application but said he hopes to submit one in the next month.
