By Pete McIntyre

More input needed on Greater Vernon active living centre

Mar 6, 2020 | 1:13 PM

More public input is being gathered on a proposed Greater Vernon Active Living Centre.

The Greater Vernon Recreation Master Plan identifies a number of indoor recreational space needs and priorities which includes expanded aquatics, a fitness centre, gymnasium(s), indoor walking/running track and spaces that can support multi-purpose programming.

Those findings led the Greater Vernon Recreation Services partners (City of Vernon, District of Coldstream, Electoral Area B, and Electoral Area C) to green light a feasibility study to explore the potential options, costs, and benefits of developing a new centre and proposed upgrades to the Vernon Aquatic Centre.

“A number of conceptual options and amenities for a new Living Centre have been identified and are being considered,” Director of Recreation Services for the City of Vernon Doug Ross said. “To help inform and guide the refinement of the potential options and amenities it is very important to get more feedback from Greater Vernon residents.”

A survey has been mailed to 5,000 random homes in Greater Vernon, and a second online survey will be available to everyone as of March 16.

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The surveys asks questions about the type of aquatic facilities the community is looking for, where the facilities should be located and whether one or two facilities should be operated.

People are also asked how much they would be willing to pay for new recreation facilities.

“Because we need to plan facilities that the community wants, but can also afford, the surveys ask if community members are willing to fund the development and operation of the facilities through a tax increase, and if so, how much of an increase,” Ross said. “This is an opportunity for people to help shape the future of recreation in Greater Vernon for years to come.”

A consultant earlier presented three options for a centre, ranging in cost from $59 to $78 million, with the most expensive on the Kin Race Track site, next to Kal Tire Place, with a 50-metre pool and other facilities, and the cheapest being to fit a 50-metre pool at the current Vernon Recreation Complex site.

The feedback will be considered when decisions are being made. For those people who do not have access to a computer, paper copies of the survey will be made available. The surveys will remain open until March 30, 2020.

For more information and to access the open online survey after March 16, visit: www.gvrec.ca.

If anyone has questions about the feasibility study, the proposed facilities or the surveys, they can speak to a feasibility study committee member by dropping in to one of the upcoming pop up events:

Thursday, March 12, 5-7 p.m. at BX Elementary School

Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Community Expo at Kal Tire Place.

Saturday, March 28, 10-5 at the Vernon Home Show at Kal Tire Place

Sunday, March 29, 10-4 at the Vernon Home Show at Kal Tire Place.

by Pete McIntyre

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