Support For Agricultural Park Plan

Local politicians have been asked to consider using a publicly-owned site for an agricultural park.

That’s described as being partly a working farm — and partly a park.

The BX Swan Lake Community Association has asked the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to consider it for a 137 acre parcel in the agricultural land reserve near East Hill.

BX-Silver Star director Mike Macnabb likes the idea.

“If we retain control of it then obviously we will have a say of what kind of agriculture takes place on it. And that I think is the big benefit, is to not allow it to go into private hands because agriculture can be industrial at any level and they can put anything they want on it,” Macnabb tells Kiss FM.

Macnabb says BX Swan lake director Bob Fleming also supports the plan.

The community group says they have 1,500 people supporting their effort.

Agrologist Melanie Piorecky  told GVAC, it would have a number of agricultural uses if kept in public hands.

“Incubator farms are when you have young farmers coming into farming and they can’t afford to buy land. So they would lease smaller properties, learn how to farm and they would build up their capital by selling their products.”

Piorecky says it could also be used for a community garden, a farmer’s market location, and for school programs.

GVAC will discuss the request at its next meeting in January.

GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham says no one really questions the idea of an agriculture park.

“I think the big question for this group is whether it’s a regional district park or an electoral area park function because we’ve gone to a local parks structure and limited what we consider sub regional parks.”