New Park in the City Centre Neighbourhood!

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We are developing a new park in the City Centre neighbourhood and would like your input!

The site, the former home of the Civic Arena, will again become a gathering place for the community. The park design will reflect the uniqueness of Vernon and be an all-season destination that will meet the needs of visitors of all ages and abilities. Users of the recently completed 29th & 30th Street Transportation Corridor will be able to stop here for a break in the shade, while the park will provide needed greenspace to the surrounding neighbourhood.

Scroll down to find out how you can give us feedback on the new design concept!


What we heard

In Summer 2020, we conducted a survey to ask you what was important about a new park. Nearly 1000 people responded, and the results tell us that the public is most interested in this park being a place that:

  • family, friends and neighbours can picnic, relax and socialize;
  • people of all generations can participate in activities like reading, napping and playing in comfortable, safe and lit spaces;
  • provides outdoor green space with places to sit amongst shade and trees; and
  • creates a variety of opportunities for small community activities.

The design concept for the new City Centre Park was developed and informed in response to the input received from the public.


How to have your say

Step 1: You can explore the design concept for the new City Centre Park by:

  • watching the short narrated video
  • reviewing the design concept document with photos and descriptions

These are all available via the links on the right side of your screen.

Step 2: If you have specific questions that you would like to ask us about the design concept, please ask them using the "Q&A' link that is just below.

Step 3: Give us your feedback by completing the short survey below to tell us specifically what you think about the new City Centre Park design.

We are developing a new park in the City Centre neighbourhood and would like your input!

The site, the former home of the Civic Arena, will again become a gathering place for the community. The park design will reflect the uniqueness of Vernon and be an all-season destination that will meet the needs of visitors of all ages and abilities. Users of the recently completed 29th & 30th Street Transportation Corridor will be able to stop here for a break in the shade, while the park will provide needed greenspace to the surrounding neighbourhood.

Scroll down to find out how you can give us feedback on the new design concept!


What we heard

In Summer 2020, we conducted a survey to ask you what was important about a new park. Nearly 1000 people responded, and the results tell us that the public is most interested in this park being a place that:

  • family, friends and neighbours can picnic, relax and socialize;
  • people of all generations can participate in activities like reading, napping and playing in comfortable, safe and lit spaces;
  • provides outdoor green space with places to sit amongst shade and trees; and
  • creates a variety of opportunities for small community activities.

The design concept for the new City Centre Park was developed and informed in response to the input received from the public.


How to have your say

Step 1: You can explore the design concept for the new City Centre Park by:

  • watching the short narrated video
  • reviewing the design concept document with photos and descriptions

These are all available via the links on the right side of your screen.

Step 2: If you have specific questions that you would like to ask us about the design concept, please ask them using the "Q&A' link that is just below.

Step 3: Give us your feedback by completing the short survey below to tell us specifically what you think about the new City Centre Park design.

Do you have questions about the park design? Ask us!

If you have a specific question about the proposed park design, please enter it here.  City staff, with the help of BENCH Site Design, will review and post answers to your questions online.  

Please note that due to the volume of responses, we may not be able to respond individually to all questions.  Please take a few moments to review the Q&A that have already been posted to see if yours might have already been answered!

If you have comments or feedback about the park, please complete the very short (5 question) survey which will provide you an opportunity to let us know what you think!

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    What are the plans for a water park or kid’s pool in the downtown area? Has this been considered for this park now that we’ve lost the one in Polson Park?

    Tamara asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello, and thanks for your question.  These options have not been considered for the new park in the City Centre due to limited space and budget.  

    It is our hope that the splash pool at Lakeview Park will be able to open this year.  It is not downtown, but reasonably close.  In the meantime, a number of 'pop-up' spray parks  will be arranged at various parks throughout this summer season.  These will involve fire-trucks and firefighters hosting an exciting event for children using water from the fire trucks.  While these will not replace the spray park, they will be fun events for families and children and an opportunity to cool off on hot summer days.   Please check the City's web site for details as these events are planned and announced.
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    From a 60 year old guy... Enough pampering to the pickelballers how about including a maintenance free, kid focused sport option similar to other North American cities www.urbansoccerpark.com/experience/

    Kid Sport asked 2 months ago

    Hello, and thanks for your suggestion.  The focus of this park is as a neighbourhood and community destination rather than an athletic park.  Unfortunately there is not enough room in this location for both.  As other athletic parks - such as Marshall Field, Kin Race Track Park, Grahame Park, MacDonald Park - are developed,  redeveloped and/or enhanced, we will certainly explore new possibilities for a variety of sporting activities.  

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    With all this space to play, relax and stay a while, where are all these people going to go to the washroom?

    lbartacityofvernon asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello, and thank you for your question!  We are in the process of  securing funding and designing  public washrooms that would be incorporated into the existing City-owned building that is on the site (formerly the Visitor Information Centre).  These may not be ready when the park is opened, depending on budget availability, but are intended to follow as soon as possible.  
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    Has a name for the park been considered? I would like to see the name recognize what went before. Perhaps Vernon Civic Park.

    Jeff Moorr asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello and thanks for your question!  We have considered names for the park and gathering input from the public on this during our survey last year.  We are now reviewing these suggestions and exploring names that reference history and culture, and will present possible names to City Council for a decision prior to the opening of the new park.  
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    I am concerned that this is going to replace Polson park. I am interested to know the cities plan for polson park with the introduction of the new city park.

    Kelly Megyesi asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello and thank you for your question.

    This new park is not intended to replace Polson Park, but rather supplement the overall park supply in the City, and in particular provide a park for the residents of the Harwood and City Centre neighbourhoods (as was identified in the City Centre Neighbourhood Plan, Parks Master Plan, and Official Community Plan).

     Polson Park has been identified as a priority for improvements in the 2019 - 2022 Council Strategy Plan.  City staff are currently in the process of a developing a plan to naturalize Vernon Creek where it crosses through the park, to fix many of the flooding issues that are occurring.  Following this, it is expected that a significant planning process for a redesign of the park will be undertaken.  If you have further questions on this, please contact our Parks Planner, Erik Mustonen, at emustonen@vernon.ca 
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    Will dogs on leash be allowed in the park?

    DebbyH asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello, and thanks for your question!  We are exploring the possibility of having this an on-leash dog park and this will be determined during the final design phase and with endorsement from Council.   If this is important to you and you have not yet completed the Survey, please indicate so in Question #5 – “Do you have any concerns about the design?”

     In the interim, please check out https://www.tourismvernon.com/en/resources/vernon-map-2018-dog-parks.pdf for more information on parks that allow dogs, both on and off leash.

     

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    I don’t feel there is enough parking. Is there street parking in the surrounding area?

    Ellen asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello, and thanks for your question!  There is a 9 stall parking area incorporated in the new park.  Additionally, there will be upwards of 30 new parking spaces along 31 Street and 37 Avenues once road improvements are completed.  These new parking areas, as well as those in the surrounding area, will be time limited to 2 hours following completion of the park. The on-street parking will serve users of the park and local businesses.  It is also anticipated that this park will see a lower need for parking as many of the users of the park will live or work in the immediate neighbourhood and access the park by the new multi-use trail that is next to the park.   
    parking
    parking
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    Have you heard of the Miyawaki forests. They are very small high density forests planted in urban area about the size of one or two tennis courts. Could this be part of the park plan? Here is a site that explains the mini forests. https://can-plant.ca/blog/crafting-tiny-fast-growing-forests-with-the-miyawaki-method.htm

    Robert Garner asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello, and thanks for you suggestion!  We really appreciate your input but this may not be the best location for this.  One of our primary concerns in designing this park is maintaining safety by ensuring visibility and sight-lines through the park.  Another priority is maximizing the amount of open space for leisure activities and gathering, rather than naturalized spaces that cannot be used.  A dense forest would not support these goals.  

    We have incorporated a natural grassland into the design, which is similar in concept to Miyawaki forests.  This grassland is intended to function as a naturalized, seasonally dymanic and low maintenance space.  It will also complement what may have existed here before and also fills the hillsides surrounding the City of Vernon.  
    safety
    safety
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    Will there be washrooms & water bottle filling stations? The design & functionality look awesome!

    Kelley Bench asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello and thanks for your question!  Yes, there will be a drinking water and/or a bottle filling station.  

    We are in the process of  securing funding and designing  public washrooms that would be incorporated into the existing City-owned building that is on the site (formerly the Visitor Information Centre).  These may not be ready when the park is opened, depending on budget availability, but are intended to follow as soon as possible.  
    public washrooms
    public washrooms
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    Are there going to be food truck allowed on site?

    Ellen asked 2 months ago

     

    Hello and thanks for your question!  Yes, the design concept accommodates up to two food trucks in the parking lot area of the park.  Further details on how this will operate will be determined at a later stage of the planning and design process. 
    food trucks
    food trucks