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District of Coldstream provides support

District of Coldstream provides support for Vernon Recreation

Jan 29, 2019 | 12:24 PM

The District of Coldstream has voted to support the City of Vernon and the Greater Vernon Recreation Master plan.

The nod of support from the district is for the short term plan and for a feasibility study to be conducted to determine potential locations for new facilities . The District has also agreed to contributing up to $100,000 to get the feasibility study done.

Prior to coming to a vote at Monday’s council meeting, concerned citizen Pam Hargreaves stood before council to urge them to encourage coalition building between all the sports groups.

” I am suggesting a coalition building exercise where all sport groups get together around the table and discuss the needs for sports facilities, and I think that we just went through this with culture so there are probably some efficiencies to be realized,” said Hargreaves.

She also suggested council look at the recreation complex in Rutland as a possible model to adopt in Vernon. The facility, located on Hartman Road is home to the Kelowna Family YMCA , a Gymnastics facility, the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and has a hockey area nearby.

“It is extremely, extremely popular. It has grown by leaps and bounds,” said Hargreaves.

“It is full of young people at all times of day,” she added.

Shayne Wright, Recreation Coordinator with the City of Vernon said the city will be hiring a consultant that will be going into the community and asking for public input on what facilities they think are most needed in the city.

“When we go to the public we want to know how big does the space need to be. Do we need a grand $100 million facility or do we want another 25 year pool, a gymnasium or a three gym complex with a running track around it? So it is more the scope of the project that we want to engage the public on.”