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Penticton unveils second draft of parks plan

The second draft of Penticton’s Parks and Rec. Master Plan is ready for public discussion
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City of Penticton CAO Peter Weeber speaking to a group that rallied outside of city hall on April 5 to share their message that they are against commercialization in public parks. File photo

The City of Penticton released the second draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan today (April 21) and set a date for an open house.

The draft covers a wide range, with over 150 recommendations for city parks, beaches, trails, outdoor recreation amenities, indoor recreation facilities and recreation programs and services.

“This will be the city’s first Parks and Recreation Master Plan since 1993,” says Lori Mullin, recreation and culture manager and co-lead on the development of the plan with Jeff Lynka, parks supervisor. “It will provide some much-needed guidance to the city on the direction to take with parks and recreation services over the next 10 years.”

The planning process was in the news recently when the steering committee began considering whether the word unencumbered should be used in defining a park and community members, many who had also opposed a commercial lease in Skaha Lake Park, rallied in opposition.

More: Groups rally to send a message to city hall

That concept remains in the draft, included in the definition as “An unencumbered tract of land wherein the land title is held by a public entity for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the people…” and in a less restrictive form in the values statement:

“Parks should be encumbered as little as possible by uses, infrastructure, agreements or policies that detract from the public’s opportunity to access and enjoy the park.”

The plan does include a lengthy section on developing a commercial use policy for parks. According to the draft “Penticton residents support most commercial uses in parks, but there is significant concern about future major uses that could have permanent effects on parkland.”

The draft plan has preliminary recommendations for a review process for commercial proposals, which includes public consultation, but doesn’t specify a requirement for public assent.

“It is a basic principle that parks be open and available to all members of the community. On the other hand, parks are expensive to maintain, and municipal resources are usually stretched,” reads the draft plan. “Commercial uses can help to fund parks development and operations, and they can also contribute to economic development and attracting tourists and residents to the community.”

The draft plan is now available at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. Hard copies will also be available for viewing at City Hall, the Community Centre and the Penticton Library.

An open house is planned for May 1 at 4 p.m. in the Trade and Convention Centre, when residents will have a chance to discuss the plan with the steering committee, staff and urban systems representatives. The open house is broken down into three sections, with two focusing on commercial use:

4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - commercial uses of parkland

6 to 7 p.m. - general overview of master plan

7 to 8 p.m. - commercial uses of parkland

Residents can also share their feedback online until May 15. Feedback gathered at the open house and online will be incorporated with the goal of creating a final draft to present to city council at the end of June.