Bill Ross and Murray Soder at Okanagan River talking about a linear park a full 3.2 miles paved from Drop Structure VDS 13 to a cross over south of the the Fairview Bridge. They need your support.
Presentation to Oliver Town Council:
OLIVER-OKANAGAN RIVER PARK
RATIONALE:
There is a growing trend across Canada, the United State, Europe and Asia to develop or adapt parks to provide Par Course outdoor exercise facilities for the physical and mental well being of citizens. The area on each side of the Okanagan River channel is ideally situated for this purpose and already has the highly utilized hike and bike trail. The landscape between the river dikes is currently growing noxious weeds such as knapweed and weed trees such as Siberian elm that dominate the landscape.
The distance from vertical drop structure VDS 11 on the south (Industrial Park) to VDS 13 (Foot Bridge) on the north is approximately 2.5 kms. or 1.6 miles on each side of the river for a total distance of 5kms or 3.2 miles. Total acreage involved is slightly over 11 acres and is all situated within the present boundaries of the Town of Oliver.
PURPOSE:
To beautify this natural asset that is currently not utilized or appreciated. To develop a park like setting with a Par Course for the enjoyment of our citizens. To provide a few picnic tables for families to enjoy the ambiance of what can be a beautiful river setting. To provide a few benches near the rivers edge so that people can sit and watch and listen to the river and observe spawning salmon in season. This can be a source of pride both for our community and a real bouquet for both the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forests who have jurisdiction over the area.
PROPOSAL:
The Proposal is to replace the Siberian elms and knapweed with clumps of trees and shrubs and low maintenance grass that will enhance the habitat for birds and other wildlife. Siberian elms at the rivers edge would be left or replaced at the discretion of the Ministries involved. A selection of aspen, oak, Russian olive, Mountain ash, wild rose, snowberry, etc. would be discreetly dispersed over the length of the park to provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. Existing wild rose will be utilized or moved to other locations as appropriate.
The areas will be contoured to facilitate a minimal mowing program, generally leaving the grass at approximately 2 inches. It is also critical to provide access for wheel chairs and motorized scooters for the handicapped and disabled to the picnic tables and benches.
The Par Course stations will be recessed into the ground, surrounded by wooden or other type of form, lined with landscape cloth and filled with wood chips ground from the trees that will be removed. To create a seamless transition to the grass areas the treated wooden forms or other would be flush with the grass surface for ease of pedestrian access and mowing. Tree plantings, benches and picnic tables would also be surrounded by forms and filled with wood chips.
The emphasis will largely be on the health and fitness of our citizens and visitors as well as the aesthetics of this unique river park.
A minimum of two stations with doggie doo, garbage and recycle bins would be installed.
METHODOLOGY:
It is proposed that local contractors be utilized on a pro bono basis on weekends in return for a receipt for a taxable donation. Initial contact with some contractors indicates this would be a go.
Irrigation design has been volunteered by Nulton Irrigation. We have a lead to an organization that has the capability to provide the necessary tax receipts.
Funding will be required for irrigation piping and sprinklers. Fortis may be required to assist with lighting. Preferably Solar LED street lights would be utilized to eliminate wiring.
We anticipate some grant money might be available from Life insurance Companies, Interior Health or other sources to finance the purchase and installation of the Pro Course equipment.
We anticipate some citizens and or organizations in the community will sponsor some or all of the benches and/or picnic tables.
You can send an email of support to the Minister Responsible
or the Town of Oliver