Input Wanted for Oliver Park Improvements

As part of the Oliver Parks and Recreation Society’s 2015-2018 strategic plan, a multi-year Park Improvement Plan is being developed for the 4 parks that the organization manages: Rotary Park & Beach, Community Park, Kinsmen Playground & Splash Park and Lion’s Park. The first stage of the development of this plan is Public Engagement, and staff is looking to Oliver and Area C residents to provide input on what would make the 4 parks better places to play, exercise, relax, reconnect with nature and attract visitors to our community.

For a small community, Oliver boasts some fantastic green space and outdoor amenities, most within walking distance from the downtown core. Kinsmen Playground is a year-round hub for children and families and especially in the summer months, when the Splash Park provides a no-cost and safe way to cool off and burn energy with friends. Rotary Park is a hidden jewel with sloped grass to the water’s edge, picnic areas, playground and sandy beach access to a warm, non-motorized lake. Lion’s Park is the first public facility visitors see when they enter into Oliver on the highway from the north and features a playground, picnic areas, an event shelter, access to the Hike & Bike Trail, the Joel Waines Memorial Skate Park and is home to the weekly Country Market-a-Fair. Community Park brings residents and visitors alike out to cycle, run, or walk their dogs along the 850m pathway loop, play slo-pitch, throw the Frisbee or just relax under a shady tree. This park also features 3 tennis courts, a fenced off-leash dog area, and with the outdoor Community Stage (built in 2012 in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Oliver) is home to several major special events including the Half Corked Marathon, Sunshine Festival, Festival of the Grape and the new home of the Thursday night Music in the Park series and Evening Market.

There are many challenges with each park that need to be addressed as well. Aesthetic things like plants/trees/flowers at entrances and along pathways in each of the parks could use some attention. The layout and features of Lion’s Park have made it a convenient and attractive hangout to the hundreds of travelers and orchard workers that migrate there for several weeks each summer, essentially alienating other park users and creating some challenging situations for bylaw enforcement. Festival goers and musicians playing on the stage in Community Park can find little shade from the hot Okanagan sun, taking away from the success of performances and adding health and safety concerns to concerts. Society members and staff have several ideas for improvements – everything from park signage to irrigation upgrades to renovation of park washrooms – however establishing priorities over the next few years will require public input. Also for immediate consideration is the current Joel Waines Memorial Skate park Revitalization project; new opportunities for boat rentals and paddling activities on Tuc el Nuit Lake; and the $20,000 grant recently received by the Town of Oliver in partnership with the Oliver Healthy Living Coalition to create an Age-Friendly Outdoor Fitness Park in Oliver in 2015.

What additions and/or improvements would you like to see in our parks over the next 1-3 years and beyond? There are so many topics to discuss: signage, maintenance, parking, lighting, washrooms, irrigation, goose control, safety/bylaw enforcement, environmental stewardship, special events and programs, trees, shade structures, general beautification and the list goes on and on.
How can you provide your input? In addition to the presentations planned for local service clubs and organizations over the next 2 months, 3 Open Houses are planned at the Oliver Community Centre February 25-28 as a way to encourage concerned citizens to speak with recreation staff and volunteers and give their ideas on how to improve our parks to protect the environment, maximize use by all residents and boost tourism. A survey is being created that will provide a quick and easy opportunity to provide suggestions and feedback from local residents and will be available on the Oliver Parks and Recreation website www.oliverrecreation.ca on February 25, 2015.

Park improvement suggestions or comments can also be forwarded by email to info@oliverrecreation.ca.
Age-Friendly Fitness Park/Park Improvement Open Houses
Wed Feb 25 1:00-5:30pm Meeting Room 1 Oliver Community Centre
Thurs Feb 26 9:00am-12noon Meeting Room 1 Oliver Community Centre
Sat Feb 28 10:00am-3:00pm at the Oliver Healthy Living Fair in the Community Hall