Funds approved for downtown park

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 26, 2010 7:00 PM

Taxpayers will be pumping big dollars into a new park site in downtown Vernon. Approval has been given to spend $199,500 for a detailed design and the first phase of redeveloping the Vernon Medical Clinic property on 31st Avenue in 2010. “We need greenspace downtown and any way we can get greenspace, I’ll support it,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy. Further phases are anticipated and the total cost for redevelopment will be about $611,100. The city is also spending $507,000 to demolish the clinic. “It’s pretty expensive greenspace,” said Coun. Bob Spiers, the lone vote against the $199,500. “It’s just too damn expensive. Maybe it would be better utilized for a parking lot.” Mayor Wayne Lippert supported the expenditure but questioned the need for a full-scale park, saying the original plan was just for a walkway. “We had talked about other uses whether it was booths for artists or food vendors,” he said. But Lippert’s comments were shot down by Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe. “For us to second guess our vision, Vernon has done that before and it’s never been to our advantage,” she said.

Kim Flick, manager of planning and building services, doesn’t believe there is enough traffic flow to support commercial uses there, and says the site is also not conducive for housing. “There is the potential to create another reason to go downtown,” she said, adding that the park will eventually include a playground, public washrooms and secure bike parking. The new location will also connect the existing Cenotaph Park with the civic complex. “It needs to link greenspaces that are under-utilized,” said Flick. Strong support for redevelopment comes from Coun. Patrick Nicol. “We need to revive that neighbourhood,” he said. “If you don’t make it attractive, it will be taken over and become a waste of money.”

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Actual Park Concept Plan and Costing details available on P.124-126 Agenda Package