The Friends of McIntyre Creek are waiting to hear from territorial and city officials about a development moratorium pending a further decision on territorial park status.

Meanwhile, they will continue their efforts to clean up areas around the creek and encourage recreational use of the proposed park.

"We had a lot of support (for a park)," Dorothy Bradley, who heads the organization, said in an interview this morning, following a meeting Wednesday night.

The Friends of McIntyre Creek are proposing a territorial park that would span the length of the creek and could be used as a wildlife corridor and a recreational site by hikers, skiers, mushers, cyclist and others, many of whom already make use of various areas around the creek.

Along with the 100 in total who turned out for the meeting held at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre, Bradley was pleased when an extra two speakers asked if they could address the crowd as well. That brought the total number of presenters up from nine to 11.

Representatives from the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Ta'an Kwachan Council, Yukon Fish and Game Association, Yukon Conservation Society, Klondike Snowmobile Association, rock climbers and the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club were among a long list of other users.

While many who addressed the crowd are part of the Friends of McIntyre Creek, there were some who aren't, but support the initiative, Bradley pointed out.

While the Ta'an have opted not to be part of the organization due to a number of other matters they're dealing with, the Kwanlin Dun haven't committed one way or the other.

At last night's meeting the general consensus among just about everyone was that a park is needed to protect the creek and areas surrounding it.

Noting issues that came up from the ski club, Bradley pointed out that if mining can proceed, the ski trails could be in jeopardy.

It is one of many concerns around the potential development of the entire area if nothing is done to protect it, she said.

Along with the current recreational uses of the park, Bradley pointed to ideas that could see summer educational programs happening along with adult programs too.

"This could be an additional one," she said of the extra uses the sites could host.

Activities are already planned for this summer, with the conservation society set to host hiking events there.

While most at the meeting supported a park, neither the city or territorial governments would commit to a moratorium or establishing any sort of park one way or the other.

Bradley has stated the group is seeking territorial park status for the area due to the large scope. The work will involve the city because it is in municipal boundaries, and the development moratorium is being sought from both governments.

"They heard our information on our plea," Bradley said.

Randy Lamb, the territory's manager of environmental affairs, and Mayor Bev Buckway were both in attendance and left the meeting with presentations in hand, Bradley noted.

Lamb told Bradley he didn't believe the proposed park would be within the territory's jurisdiction because of its location within city limits.

Bradley disagrees, pointing to territorial legislation that allows the commissioner to set aside space within municipal boundaries for a recreational park and pointing out there are a number of examples of provincial parks which fall inside municipal boundaries in other regions.

"There's nothing saying it can't be done," she said, adding Lamb later stated government officials will explore the matter again.

Buckway, meanwhile, also accepted the group's package of information after hearing the presentations.

While there was no commitment from Buckway, Bradley said she expects the mayor will read the information before taking a stance on the issue.

She's hopeful both governments will reach a decision on the proposed moratorium within the next month.

And while she'd also like to see a decision on the park made within the year, she said that's uncertain, given the three parks the territory is currently working on under the land claim Umbrella Final Agreement.

As the organization waits for word from government, it will continue to champion its cause promoting the use of the area for recreational activities and hosting clean-up events.

While there's been no commitment from the city on the park or moratorium, Bradley noted the city's assistance in the group's efforts to spruce up the areas.

"The city is very co-operative when we do our clean-up," she said.

The city offers trucks for the loads of waste that are taken out of the area to the landfill and waives tipping fees for the efforts.

In some cases as well, city staff have pointed the group to areas near the creek that should be cleaned up, she said.

Friends of McIntyre Creek's next scheduled next clean-up is Sept. 19, beginning at the fish hatchery off Mountainview Drive.