City council endorses passive park plan for Kin Race Track lands

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Mayor Victor Cumming expressed some concern with emergency vehicle access to the northwest corner of the park, suggesting staff should look into the hard surface of the trail so it could accommodate an ambulance in an emergency. It was also suggested that some parking spots be built out in that section for emergency vehicle use.

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Councillor Akbal Mund suggested there be more outdoor basketball courts, saying it would allow for the city to host tournaments at the park.

Councillor Kari Gares recommended a fieldhouse be established at the park for local sport groups to utilize.

The plan received unanimous support and council directed staff to proceed with a detailed design for Phase One of the park development that included council’s input. That design will be brought forward for consideration as part of the 2027-2031 Infrastructure Plan during the 2027 budget deliberations.

Original Story

The green space adjacent to Vernon’s new recreation centre could become a passive park.

That’s according to City of Vernon staff, who are proposing this park style that would include children’s play opportunities, walking trails and pathways, a fences dog park, a main entrance plaza, a toboggan berm, washroom facilities, space for community markets, flexible event space on both flat and sloped lawn areas, and an open space designed to function as both a dry pond for drainage and a grass turf area for informal soccer.

“In this context, “passive park” refers to a high-level approach that recognizes the site’s significant constraints particularly the limited feasibility for athletic fields or civic buildings while prioritizing the protection and enhancement of natural systems, including habitat conservation and stormwater management,” the city staff report stated.

It went on to say there were also a number of factors that needed to be considered for developing this 9.5 hectare parcel of land including a high groundwater table, existing wetlands, well-established surface draining patterns, and drainage for the ALC.

The plan for the site would need to integrate stormwater management solutions, and that could be incorporated through the passive park model.

Development of the park would be done in multiple stages. The first would see the focus put on key engineering works, servicing and amenities, which staff said could be done alongside the landscaping, civil works, and other work at the ALC.

Phase One would cost an estimated $7.1-million, funded through the Kin Race Track Reserve, Parks Development Cost Charges, Stormwater Development Cost Charges, and Infrastructure Reserve.

Vernon City Council will be presented with the concept passive park at the regular meeting April 27, where it will be discussed and considered to be included in the Infrastructure Plan as part of the 2027 budget process.