Staff
The Town of Fort Frances will continue to maintain Pither’s Point Park until either ownership finally is determined through the court case or further order of the court.
In a press release issued late this morning, the town said Superior Court Justice John F. McCartney had rendered his decision on the town’s motion regarding the park on Tuesday.
The town had brought a motion before Superior Court in Thunder Bay last Thursday to attempt to clarify the use of Pither’s Point Park until the legal questions of use and ownership finally are answered.
At that time, Justice McCartney reserved his decision.
“The Town of Fort Frances looks forward to maintaining the Point Park for the ongoing use and enjoyment of all communities and visitors to the area,” the press release stated.
“The Town of Fort Frances will continue to pursue, as it has in the past, co-operative solutions outside of the court process,” it added.
“I think it’s good for all people, the town residents as well First Nations,” Mayor Roy Avis said in an interview this morning.
“The position of the town is we want to maintain it, we want to look after it, and we want to work with the First Nations’ people to make it good for all people in the surrounding area,” he added.
The town had been advised earlier this year by the First Nations that the interim arrangements for the town’s maintenance and continued use of the park would not be extended.
The 99-year Agency One land lease expired at the end of last April.
But just prior to then, an agreement was reached that permitted the town to continue to maintain the park for another year.
