Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
Vernon Creek in Polson park behind the temporary fencing (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
Vernon Creek Naturalization Project Impacts

City working with groups impacted by Vernon Creek Naturalization project

Mar 10, 2025 | 5:22 PM

The City of Vernon confirmed it’s working with groups that would be impacted by the Vernon Creek Naturalization project at Polson Park.

At the regular meeting Monday, March 10, city council learned that the construction contract for phase 2 of the project was being finalized, with work at the creek to go July though September, as permitted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, though there could be some tree and vegetation removal starting as early as March.

While the work is underway, there will be a need to install temporary fencing around the site, which includes blocking off the a portion of the road through the park.

Those measures would impact events held at the park, and city staff, along with the mayor, said Vernon would work with organizers to move those events and celebrations to other locations.

“Unfortunately, some of these events will have to be somewhere else in the city because the road access [will be blocked and] construction equipment will be there,” Mayor Victor Cumming told Vernon Matters following Monday’s meeting.

The project would see the natural habitat restored and the creek made more resilient to flooding events, and the mayor said he was excited to see the project move into phase 2.

“I know that, for a number of people, it’s been a bit of a heartbreak to see Polson go through the change that it’s had,” Cumming said.

“But, it’s absolutely required. It’s absolutely required for groundwater, absolutely required for the health of creek, and we end up, I think, with a better project at the end. We’ll end up with much more public access to the waterways, and much better access for the fish and other aquatic animals and plants.”

View Comments