Withering away

Of all the challenges facing Fort Frances these days, surely the saddest is watching Pither’s Point Park slowly wither away while its future remains in legal limbo.
The Hallett and Lookout Tower were relocated from there to the La Verendrye Parkway by the Sorting Gap Marina last year, and now there’s word the town is poised to remove the campground sites given the interim arrangement for the town’s maintenance and continued use of the park for last season has expired—and which the four First Nations’ bands already have advised will not be extended.
It’s the latest step in the tarnishing of what should be the “crown jewel” of our community, and would leave Fort Frances—which boasts of being a tourist town—without a campground to entice visitors driving RVs or towing trailers to spend time here instead of just passing through.
Of course, local residents would be impacted, as well, and perhaps the annual “Relay for Life” planned at Pither’s Point in late June.
To its credit, the town is bringing a motion in Superior Court in Thunder Bay tomorrow in an attempt to clarify the maintenance and use of Pither’s Point Park until its ownership question is resolved. If it proves unsuccessful, however, and the ongoing negotiations continue without a deal, just what will transpire this season is anyone’s guess.
Most frustrating is how long this issue has been allowed to fester. Everyone knew when the 99-year lease would expire (April 30, 2009)—and yet no deal was reached. Yes, the interim arrangement was offered by the bands at the 11th hour, but now another year has passed and no long-term solution is in sight.
The foot-dragging has to stop—now. Pither’s Point Park must not be allowed to wilt any further.