Improvements to Civic Memorial Park are part of of Vernon's capital projects for 2023. (File photo/Vernon Matters)

By Pete McIntyre

$21 million plan

Parks are big part of Vernon’s 2023 projects

Dec 7, 2022 | 5:00 AM

The City of Vernon’s new budget includes more than $21 million in capital projects for next year.

The upgrades include $3 million for the first phase of the Kin Race Track Athletic Park, and $1.36 million for the third phase of Civic Memorial Park.

According to the city’s financial plan, Phase 3 of Civic Memorial Park is contingent on receiving grant funding of $639,000 from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund.

The scope of the project will include renovations to the park building public space, shade structure and a water feature. This project also includes funding to improve the Meadows area and to support the full renovations of the park building in the amount $720,000.

The $3 million first phase of the $50 million plan for Kin Race Track Athletic Park, is still to be decided, according to the city’s details outlined below.

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That park on 43rd Ave. will eventually include sports fields, ball diamonds, a skate park, a dog park, a perimeter trail and other facilities, once its completed.

Kin Race Track Athletic Park (City of Vernon image)

As part of the new budget, but separate from the capital projects, the city will also start the final design process for the Active Living Centre, which is expected to cost up to $12 million.

Other features of the city’s 2023 capital plan include:

• Polson Park Vernon Creek Naturalization Phase 1 – $1.95M (will reduce chronic ponding and highwater issues in the park)
• Infrastructure replacement on 32^nd Ave from Pleasant Valley Road to 20^th St – $1.72M
• Infrastructure replacement on 32^nd Ave and 38^th St near Alexis Park Drive and 30^th Ave – $2.78M
• The extension of sanitary sewer collector pipe to a portion of the remaining non-serviced areas in the Okanagan Landing area using horizontal directional drilling – $1.11M