Okanagan Similkameen Regional District seeking public input on parks

PENTICTON – People interested in regional district parks in South Okanagan and Similkameen have an opportunity to provide input regarding their present and future.

A questionnaire on regional park development has been prepared and is available through the regional district website. The deadline to complete the survey is Aug. 8.

The four communities with parks under consideration include Okanagan Falls, Heritage Hills, Kaleden and Naramata.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen recently awarded a contract for park development services to consultants LA West. Feedback from the questionnaires will guide consultant LA West in determining future park use and develop a long term vision for the park.

“This is our method of getting local communities involved in building their parks,”community services manager Mark Woods says. "When we realized we had a number of these things happening, we put it out for tender.” 

Woods says Kaleden residents are interested in a direction for Pioneer Park, in addition to finding out more about long term park plans in general.

The focus in Okanagan Falls is to ask the community what they want to do with the Lamb property, acquired last fall. Data collected from the questionnaire will be used to develop a preliminary park program and concept design for the Lamb acquisition, located on Skaha Lake off Willow Street.  

The addition to the existing waterfront park in Okanagan Falls is part of a community vision for a waterfront park stretch in from Lions Park to Main Street. The concept design will be presented at a future open house.

Public input to develop the newly purchased Vista View property in Heritage Hills is also being sought. The property was allocated parkland following a referendum last April.

In Naramata, a long-term vision is being sought for Manitou Park.

Woods says LA West is working a multi-faceted approach in the communities with developing parks. They’ve met with all the commissions and staff and have issued the survey.

He expects the results of the questionnaires will be complete in time to allow budgeting for further park development in the 2017 requisition.

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