Parks proposal gets a rough ride

Published: May 16, 2009 12:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star

An effort to localize decision-making in some Greater Vernon parks isn’t going over well. Some Greater Vernon Advisory Committee members question why Coldstream wants to establish a process that would identify parks that are regional in scope and those considered more local. “We formed GVSC to look after parks. If we’re going to change things, let’s dissolve it,” said Jack Gilroy, a Vernon director. Buffy Baumbrough, a Vernon director, questions what Coldstream’s proposal would achieve. “You want to make decisions over what you have identified as local parks but they still fit in under GVSC,” she said. But Coldstream director Doug Dirk believes there is a need to have more local input on neighbourhood parks in all jurisdictions. “Nobody is asking for a divorce (from GVAC). We are asking for a process,” he said.“I don’t know why this is seen as a threat. The reaction is puzzling.”Coldstream officials claim there is no mechanism for it or other jurisdictions to pay for a higher level of park service beyond the standards established by GVAC. “We want to give more weight to local issues when it’s a local park,” said Dirk of decisions not being left primarily in the hands of administration.

As an example, Coldstream director Gyula Kiss suggests that concerns about conditions at Lavington Community Park have been ignored. “Trees dead for years haven’t been removed,” he said, adding that the outdoor pool is sometimes closed when it should be open. Baumbrough insists, though, that those issues can be discussed at the board level, and BX-Swan Lake director Mike Gavinchuk wonders how proactive Coldstream has been. “Has Coldstream written anything out that they want something done? To try and take over parks is wrong,” he said. Support for Coldstream comes from Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director. “From Area C’s perspective, we’d like to be more involved. Right now, everything is directed by parks (staff),” he said. GVAC will hold a special meeting to discuss Coldstream’s proposal further.