Deer Park Renewal Project

The City of Vernon is implementing improvements to renew Deer Park at 9192 Tronson Road (Canadian Lakeview Estates) based on public feedback received last year.

Location Map

Deer Park

The park is tidy and generally well maintained, and it has healthy trees. A split rail fence was recently built to define its northwestern corner, and a Fire-Smart Committee has also been set up, which has reduced wildfire risk for the park site by brush removal although some brush areas remain. The park has facilities that need repair, and it lacks some other items:

1. Surface roots from poplars are damaging paths and creating tripping hazard in the open meadow area;

2. The tennis court needs repair, and the pickleball court is mostly unusable due to root damage;

3. There is no barrier-free universal access available from the parking areas;

4. There is no site furniture from the City, resident-provided picnic tables are in poor condition, and

5. Recreational opportunities are limited - there is no play equipment for children.

Constraints:

1. The park's remote location on the edge of town makes maintenance difficult, and funds for operations and maintenance are limited, and

2. The interior of the existing building in the park, has been severely damaged and contains asbestos, so use other than to store City maintenance equipment, is not feasible.
   
   

Proposed Improvements:

Through initial discussion with representatives of the Lakeview Estates Community Association and recommendations from Parks Operations and Maintenance staff, the following ideas came forward:

1. Revision of the main entrance to provide a ramp for universal access and for maintenance equipment;

2. Removal of stumps, levelling the ground and re-seeding the open meadow area for informal play;

3. Removal of additional brush for FireSmart wildfire prevention and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design - mainly by increasing visibility of the park from the road) - COMPLETED;

4. Minor repair, root barrier installation and re-surfacing of the tennis court;

5. Major repair, root barrier installation and re-surfacing of the pickleball court and re-lining for 4 courts;

6. Installation of playground equipment with resilient surfacing;

7. Installation of new picnic tables and benches;

8. Construction of steps down to tennis court area from adjacent road, and

9. Construction of a path from the steps to connect to the existing path at the tennis court.

10. Planting of coniferous trees.

11. Installation of bike rack.

12. Path re-surfacing.

13. Bear-proof garbage can.

PRELIMINARY PLAN FOR REVIEW

The City of Vernon has developed the Deer Park Preliminary Plan for Park Renewal, which is shown below: