The DaSilva family and Ontario Cycling Association will have the best intentions when they go before tomorrow's Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) meeting in what may be a last-ditch bid to save their Halton Place-based BMX track.
We only hope they have the best strategy planned as well in an effort to prevent the leveling of a track that 20-year-old Tim DaSilva died building in July 2006.
Tim's Track supporters simply can't afford to go in with an 'us-versus-them' mindset toward either the NEC or Halton Place's neighbours.
After all, the impending order to flatten the track has come to light after Halton Place neglected to secure a permit before construction began.
That's a big no-no on environmentally-sensitive land.
The DaSilvas and company would also be well-advised not to focus solely on the emotional attachment to Tim's Track -- as hard as that might be -- when it comes to trying to sway the NEC in their favour.
Needing to be open to compromise -- with a probationary period a viable option for all concerned -- the local BMX community must make assurances that neighbours' concerns over noise and traffic (among others) will be effectively addressed.
We can only hope that an agreement can reached -- not only for the DaSilvas' sake, but local BMXers' as well.