Whats in a name? City gets ideas for new park

Aug 17, 2020 | 5:39 AM

Vernon’s newest park could be named after a city historical figure, like Larry Kwong, the first non-caucasian player to play in the NHL.

The former Vernon resident who played for the New York Rangers in 1948 was one of the suggestions in an online survey by the city on what features people would like to see in the park planned for the former Civic Arena site on 37th Avenue.

City planners say a number of respondents indicated a preference for a memorial or historical name, such as Kwong, and there was also a desire to get input on a name from local Indigenous leaders.

Other popular words mentioned were City, Civic and Centre.

Shade trees, picnic areas and playgrounds for children were among the top responses for what people would like to see in the new park.

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The online survey got over one thousand responses.

Detailed designs of the green space will be the next step, and construction could start this fall or next spring.

“Other items to resolve during the park planning process include acquisition of the privately owned property at 3006 39th Avenue (the owner has been contacted), the location of parking should property acquisition not proceed as planned (a 16 stall parking lot is shown in the conceptual design consistent with the traffic impact assessment completed for the Visitor Information Centre and Zoning Bylaw requirements), curb, boulevard and road design along 31st Street and 37th Avenue (to be coordinated with the approved 4 year rolling capital budget and to include up to 30 additional parking stalls), and a future finalized location of the sani dump,” said a staff report to city council.

Details on these items will be brought forward to council as required.

City centre park concept plan (City of Vernon)

by Pete McIntyre

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