Planning gets the go-ahead for the former Civic Arena site

Let the planning begin.

Vernon City Council gave the go-ahead to begin the planning process for the old Civic Arena site on Monday.

According to a report issued to council, the site is designated to be used as a park under the city’s official community plan and the new park is intended to serve “the entire community and provide recreation and leisure opportunities.”

The site is also supposed to provide parking for the Okanagan Rail Trail under city council’s strategic plan for 2019-2022.

But during Monday’s council meeting, Coun. Brian Quiring suggested deferring the planning stage for a year.

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“There are just a lot of things in play right now in this community with art galleries and museums that we need $15 million for, there’s just a lot of things going on and I don’t know maybe that site might have a higher and better use at some point,” he said.

“I don’t want to go too far down the park planning idea until we are convinced that there isn’t a higher and better purpose because things are changing,” he said.

The staff report recommends starting construction on the proposed park in 2020 and finishing it by early 2021.

Members of the public will have a chance to give their say on what goes in the park through various forms of community engagement, according to the city.

An online survey, a webpage and open houses are slated to occur in September and October of this year.

While planning takes place, Coun. Dalvir Nahal suggested utilizing the three-acre property in the meantime with a temporary outdoor skating rink, that would be similar to the one used in downtown Kelowna.

“I think it would be really fun to have something that goes with the strategic plan of a vibrant downtown,” she said.

An outdoor ice rink has not been investigated by city staff since the Polson Park master plan redevelopment in 2009, according to the city.

City staff will provide a cost estimate for a temporary outdoor rink at a later council meeting.

The site on 37 Ave. currently accommodates the Visitor Information Centre, parking facilities, and a sani-dump.

A new extension of 30 Street to connect 37 and 39 Avenues, including extension of the multi-use path, is planned for the east side of the site.

“This will occupy approximately one-third of the land space resulting in a developable area of approximately two acres,” stated a city news release.