Park plans to shine

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 27, 2009 12:00 PM

Shine up the city’s jewel. That was the message members of Vernon council gave to city administration in regards to the future of Polson Park Friday. Mayor Wayne Lippert and five council members – Coun. Buffy Baumbrough was absent due to a prior commitment – went on a 90-minute walk around the downtown park, described by some councillors as “the city’s jewel and treasure,” and were joined by city staff, bylaw officials, recreation staff and summer safety patrol members, along with several members of the public. The idea was to take an up-close look at Vernon’s historic park and come up with some ideas for improvement or enhancement. “There’s only one chance over the next three generations to do this. This is the time,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol in regards to redeveloping Polson Park. “Personally, as a councillor, I’d take money from our reserves and actually spend money on the park. Reserve monies are for things with a purpose for the long term that benefit generations long after we’re gone.”

Among the ideas bandied about were improving the trails in the park, including adding a walking/running/cycling trail on the west side of Vernon Creek, which would result in removing a number of the trees. The area is infamous for the criminal element that hang out in the park, and for the homeless who will erect “tent cities.” Clint Kanester, manager of bylaw services for Vernon, is in favour of the trail. “It would reduce some of the high-risk activity, they would be much more visible to people using the trail system,” said Kanester. “The more users, the better to increase safety.”

There was no bigger topic during the 90-minute tour than safety. Nicol suggested housing community police in Polson Park, an idea that was lauded by all. “I like the idea of putting community police, or even bylaws and auxiliary police down here, even in the summer months,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. “I’d like to see a nurse coming off a shift at the hospital feel safe enough to walk through the park. When we get to that point, I’d really be happy. Let’s put in some more lighting, too.”

Coun. Jack Gilroy’s wish list includes another tennis court or two, an outdoor skating rink, a great trail system with lots of signage, more covered gazebos, modernizing the bandshell, metal bleachers right now, where the historic grandstand sat before it was burned down in a 2006 arson fire, and expanded parking at the south end of the park. Coun. Shawn Lee and Mayor Wayne Lippert both felt that the grandstand should be replaced, but not to the scale of the previous structure. What all of council agreed is that some kind of permanent structure should be built. “My experience working as a volunteer, the challenge has been proper hook-ups for Hydro or water for vendors for the events at the park,” said Lippert. “There should be a building there with storage near the bandstand.”The grandstand was never replaced. In its place, utility trailers have been set up which holds storage for local athletic organizations, and serve as a lunchroom for city employees.Nicol, however, said the grandstand in the park was a significant focal point for community welcomes, such as the Queen’s visit in 1959. He doesn’t want to see the park’s history forgotten.

“The park has been a gathering place in the past because of the grandstand. There should be a creative way to re-do that,” he said. Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe and Al McNiven, manager of parks for Greater Vernon, said Polson Park must cater to families. “We start out with a basic philosophy of turning Polson Park into a family site,” said McNiven. “Everything you do tries to draw the family to the park. Keep it an informal setting, so I can come down anytime I want and I have the space to do certain things.” McNiven also agreed with Gilroy’s idea of expanding the water park. Currently, new playground equipment is being installed.

Doug Dirk was pushing his wheelchair-bound friend, Graeme Murphy around the park and joined the tour. Murphy said accessibility for the handicapped in the park is “pretty fair.” “It’s not great, but it’s pretty good. It could use some upgrades,” said Murphy. “I’m glad council is open to looking at improvements. There’s nothing too bad in getting around. There’s the odd spot that could use a bit of an upgrade. Some spots are pretty bumpy.” Kim Flick, Vernon’s manager of planning, and a mother who brings her son to the park on a regular basis, said the city is blessed to have Polson Park in the downtown. “It’s a legacy for the community. Everything we’ve heard from the community reinforces the value of this park in their hearts.”

Flick and McNiven spent Friday afternoon putting preliminary directions for the park together so a planning process can start immediately. Council will receive a written report with their input and discuss it at their next regular meeting on July 13.

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Morning Star Editorial Keep the city’s jewel sparkling

Safety, trails, expansion, family-oriented. Those were among the more popular suggestions put out by Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert and five members of council Friday morning as they met with city administration to discuss future re-development of Polson Park. Located in the heart of the city, Polson Park should be a spot where people congregate for family gatherings, for sporting events, for graduation and wedding ceremonies and photos, for recreation, for relaxation, and, for the most part, the park provides all of those amenities for citizens and visitors. But, locally, there is a fear factor about the facility. Fear of the criminal element that frequents the park, conducting illegal activities. And fear of the homeless, who erect so-called “tent cities” along the west bank of the park, in heavily-treed areas. It’s that fear that prevents many people from even going to the park, let alone enjoying themselves while there.

Among the suggestions to help improve safety were eliminating some of the trees along the west bank and creating a running/walking trail and, perhaps the most intriguing suggestion of all, incorporating a permanent structure that would house not only storage, seating and a kitchen, but Vernon RCMP’s Safe Communities Unit. Their presence alone would certainly deter a lot of the criminal element away from the park. There were also suggestions about expanding the water park, adding more tennis courts, a putting green, more signage, more gazebos, heated washrooms, and keeping the park’s long history in the forefront of park-goers. It was suggested that families be first-and-foremost in the upgrade; that Polson Park should be an area that draws families in an informal setting for all types of fun and activity. All of the ideas and all of the suggestions put forward by council were exemplary. It shows that they want to do everything they can to keep what they call Vernon’s jewel shining brightly. Let’s hope the ideas are put into place very soon.