The decision to turn land straddling McIntyre Creek into a park is one for the city to make, not the Yukon government, according to cabinet ministers speaking to a Liberal MLA's motion last week in the legislative assembly.

For more than 30 minutes, Porter Creek South MLA Don Inverarity made his case that the government should work with the City of Whitehorse to establish a park in and around the creek's wetlands.

"I believe we need to recognize that a green space within the city is good for our health, it's good for our well-being, and it's not just about the animals that live there," said Inverarity.

But Resources Minister Brad Cathers and Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon, who is also the MLA for Porter Creek North, said the city needs to take the lead.

"Obviously, the City of Whitehorse has jurisdiction and authority for these kinds of land-related issues within their boundaries," said Kenyon.

His amendment that the government support the city's Official Community Plan (OCP), rather than the park, was eventually passed nine to seven.

As the first draft of an OCP review is expected this June, Inverarity's idea that the government support the city in the creation of a park appears premature.

Whitehorse Mayor Bev Buckway was among 100 residents who turned out at a Friends of McIntyre Creek committee meeting on April 1.

Formed a year ago by Dorothy Bradley, the committee's plan is to preserve the ecological integrity for users and animals and to protect the area from development. Bradley said Buckway did not make her feelings known about the idea.

"She hasn't made a comment yet but I think she was surprised at how many people do use this area," said Bradley.

Buckway told the Star today there are many factors to be considered before the park could be included in the new OCP.

"There's private property, mining claims and even part of the landfill that's included (in the park plan), so we certainly have our work cut out for us to try and delineate this," said Buckway. "...When someone makes a request, we don't just say ‘yes' or ‘no.'"

Short of getting the Yukon government's stamp of approval, Bradley hopes the park idea makes the OCP cut.

Terminology is also important. Both Inverarity and his fellow MLAs stayed clear of referring to Friends of McIntyre Creek's proposal as a "territorial" park.

If they had, the jurisdictional waters would have become muddy as the Yukon's Parks and Land Certainty Act governs the creation and management of territorial parks.

This subtle point was not lost on Bradley.

"(The government) pointed the finger at somebody else and said it's their responsibility," she said of the outcome of Inverarity's motion.

"Municipalities have to abide by territorial laws; territorial laws supersede them. Now, they don't have to arbitrarily lay down the law but they can initiate the talks."

Talks will need to include the Ta'an Kwach'an and Kwanlin Dun first nations as the proposed park straddles their respective settlement areas.

The Friends' concept of a park begins at the mouth of the creek at the Yukon River and spreads out to a space four times the size of the Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club trails (which would be included).

The Friends committee has yet to scrutinize potential costs - start-up or operations and maintenance.

"There doesn't need to be a lot of development or reclamation, so staffing will probably be the biggest cost," Bradley speculated, adding the longer the wait, the more damage will be done in the region.

"There are areas that need park rangers on it now ... quads and ATVs and snowmobiles that are crisscrossing the wetlands and the creek," said Bradley

"When you add it altogether, it's a very well-used area, and we're going to have to start regulating some of the use to start saving it as a natural area."