Parks agreement waits for Vernon

A new agreement will restructure the ownership and management of the area's parks, if Vernon decides to sign on.

The Regional District of the North Okanagan and the district of Coldstream both signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of a Sub-Regional Parks Service this week.

"All that's left is Vernon," says Tannis Nelson, the regional district's community development coordinator.

Vernon Mayor Rob Sawatzky, who endorses the agreement, says, "It's a less than perfect mechanism, but we're not looking for perfection. We're looking for workable."

Sawatzky says he expects Vernon councillors to ratify the agreement after discussing it Dec. 10, but that he could be wrong.

"You never know," he says.

Currently, the area has numerous parks that are located in a given jurisdiction but managed by another. The new agreement would shift the ownership of some parks back to the district they belong in.

"To the legal extent possible, participants will pursue aligning ownership of local park property with the jurisdiction in which the park is located," reads the agreement.

Ownership of Kalamalka Beach park would be transferred from Vernon to the Regional District.

Ownership of Lakeshore Road lots would move from the Regional District to the City of Vernon.

It's anticipated that Vernon will make its decision for or against the agreement on Monday.

—Charlotte Helston

chelston@infotelnews.ca

(250)-309-5230