Major Destination Parks
Recommendations
• Acquire land for and develop a new major destination park in the north Vernon area - recommend park acquisition minimum 40 ha, some of which is to meet current needs and the remainder to meet future needs (i.e. funding through DCCs).
• Develop the new major destination park through a Master Planning process involving community consultation, with consideration for picnic, hiking, play and interpretive facilities.
• Upgrade Polson Park through a Master Planning process involving community consultation, addressing potential removal of the grandstand and football field, upgrading of facilities as required, removal of vehicular traffic through the park, and development of new facilities for the general public, e.g., picnicking and gathering areas, special types of plantings.
• Explore opportunities for acquiring land for a third major destination park that will be required in 10 to 20 years. Potential locations include upper elevation lands in the Commonage or Bella Vista Range.
*************************************************************************************
Community and Neighbourhood Parks.
Recommendations
• Acquire new community parks in new development areas and where special opportunities exist, generally as shown on the plan (see Map 3). Distribute community parks as required based on future population and available properties.
• Develop new community parks as development proceeds.
• Develop the following properties with community park facilities: BX Ranch, Sovereign property – both to have special focus based on natural and cultural features.
• Acquire neighbourhood parks in new development areas, generally as shown on Map 3 (slightly revised from OCP).
• Explore the option of acquiring West Vernon Elementary School as a park site if the School District closes this school. If acquired, review the existing facilities to determine any potential for adaptive uses, with particular consideration for the recreation needs of seniors.
• Purchase N’Kwala Park if the School District is interested in selling it.
• Upgrade existing community and neighbourhood parks as required. The following are potential upgrading needs:
• Develop a trail around Cool’s Pond to provide more opportunity for recreation.
• Upgrade the lacrosse facility at Creekside Park.
• Improve the access and parking at Coldstream Park.
The following are principles that should be used to guide acquisition and development of community and neighbourhood parks:
• Locate community parks adjacent to secondary schools where possible.
• Locate community recreation facilities in or adjacent to community parks where possible.
• Locate community parks near natural areas or trails where possible.
• Locate neighbourhood parks adjacent to elementary schools where possible.
• Locate neighbourhood parks central to neighbourhoods with street frontage and access from all four sides if possible.
• Dispose of underutilized park properties smaller than 0.2 ha that have financial value in locations already well served by neighbourhood parks, where the surrounding community will support this.
• Increase the size of neighbourhood parks smaller than 0.2 ha in locations that are not well served by neighbourhood parks.
• Encourage the School District and college to recognize school grounds and campuses as park areas and to develop or improve them accordingly.
*************************************************************************************
OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES
Ball Diamonds
Vernon has a total of 34 ball diamonds, of which 24 are for softball (slo-pitch or fastball), and 10 are baseball (9 minor and 1 adult).
Vernon has a softball diamond supply of 1/2,116 population, a very high supply. The baseball diamond supply is 1/5,080 population. This is also a large number of fields for the size of the community. An analysis was conducted of field use in relation to capacity. Using a conservative estimate of capacity (Monday to Saturday week, Saturday based on 9 to 3 pm only, 2 hour blocks for ball games, one block per weekday evening for fields without lights, 2 blocks for fields with lights), the field use in relation to capacity is 55% for school fields, and 75% for fields in parks.
The largest group of ball diamond users in the community is the various adult slo-pitch leagues who together have over 1,000 members. The minor fastball (also called fastpitch) league serves around 180 girls; fastball can use the same diamonds as slo-pitch. There is only one adult baseball league, and a minor baseball league that had 450 members in 2000. Slo-pitch participation is steady, minor fastball is stable, and minor baseball participation is decreasing.
In addition to the above league play that includes practices, games and tournaments, a Funtastic tournament is held in Vernon every summer on the July 1 long weekend. In 2003, 320 teams participated, making this the largest amateur event in Western Canada. Mixed slo-pitch is the central event, with most of the activity occuring on the DND site. The group hopes to build Funtastic Place in Vernon, a major slopitch tournament facility.
Recommendations
• Work on partnership agreements with School District to enable GVSC to renovate and maintain school fields to a higher standard and to enable access to washrooms.
• Focus on minor fastball at Grahame by moving adults elsewhere, e.g. new field at DND or Funtastic Place, especially since two of the fields at Grahame are too small for adult use.
Sports Fields
Vernon has a total of 51 sports fields. These are used primarily for soccer, but other uses include football, rugby, field lacrosse, track and field, fly fishing practice, grass volleyball, Special Olympics, and ultimate (frisbee).
Vernon has a sports field supply of 1/996 population. This is a very high standard of supply. An analysis was conducted of field use in relation to capacity. Using a conservative estimate of capacity (Monday to Saturday week, Saturday based on 9 to 3 pm only, 1½ hr blocks for soccer, one block per weekday evening), the field use in relation to capacity is 43% for school fields, and 73% for fields in parks.
The North Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (NOYSA) is the primary user of sports fields. With about 2000 members in the 2003 season, membership is stable and their season of use is April to November. The NOYSA uses all park and school fields except ones that are in poor condition. They host 3 tournaments per year. There are also men’s and women’s soccer leagues in the community.
There are several important trends occurring in soccer. One is a move towards artificial turf, which can sustain much higher levels of play year-round, and many B.C. communities now have or are developing such fields. Another is indoor artificial turf practice facilities, e.g., Western Indoor Soccer, Burnaby. These are very popular for training. The third factor is the hiring of full time soccer development coordinators to improve the sport. These factors are leading to a more active soccer community and worn, over-utilized fields.
The other groups that use sports fields include: senior mens’ rugby, minor football, high school football, field lacrosse, track and field, fly fishing practice, grass volleyball, Special Olympics, and ultimate (frisbee). Ultimate is a relatively new activity. With just over 50 regular members in the Greater Vernon area, the league hosted a major weekend tournament in recent years, and also hosts several smaller tournaments annually.
Recommendations
• Work on partnership agreements with School District to enable GVSC to renovate and maintain school fields to a higher standard.
• Support the development of an indoor soccer facility. Potential locations in order of priority: Kin Park, OUC site or area. If possible, locate the indoor soccer fields at the same site as the new premium soccer fields.
• If an artificial turf field is developed, upgrade or develop 2 additional fields in the next 10 years.
• Options: renovate fields at Kal Secondary, Vernon Secondary, or BX Elementary.
• Develop 2 new fields in proposed parks.
• If an artificial turf field is not developed, upgrade or develop 6 additional fields in the next 10 years.
• Options: renovate fields at Kal Secondary, Vernon Secondary, BX Elementary, Kidston, Hillview #1
• Develop 6 new fields in proposed parks.
• Develop a new fieldhouse with washroom, concession and storage at any proposed major new field complex.
• Develop a package and staff support to encourage tournaments in the community in collaboration with Sport North Okanagan, GVSC Economic Development and Community Futures.
These are the more important points relating to sport fields and community parks. For further information please visit:
Recommendations
• Acquire land for and develop a new major destination park in the north Vernon area - recommend park acquisition minimum 40 ha, some of which is to meet current needs and the remainder to meet future needs (i.e. funding through DCCs).
• Develop the new major destination park through a Master Planning process involving community consultation, with consideration for picnic, hiking, play and interpretive facilities.
• Upgrade Polson Park through a Master Planning process involving community consultation, addressing potential removal of the grandstand and football field, upgrading of facilities as required, removal of vehicular traffic through the park, and development of new facilities for the general public, e.g., picnicking and gathering areas, special types of plantings.
• Explore opportunities for acquiring land for a third major destination park that will be required in 10 to 20 years. Potential locations include upper elevation lands in the Commonage or Bella Vista Range.
*************************************************************************************
Community and Neighbourhood Parks.
Recommendations
• Acquire new community parks in new development areas and where special opportunities exist, generally as shown on the plan (see Map 3). Distribute community parks as required based on future population and available properties.
• Develop new community parks as development proceeds.
• Develop the following properties with community park facilities: BX Ranch, Sovereign property – both to have special focus based on natural and cultural features.
• Acquire neighbourhood parks in new development areas, generally as shown on Map 3 (slightly revised from OCP).
• Explore the option of acquiring West Vernon Elementary School as a park site if the School District closes this school. If acquired, review the existing facilities to determine any potential for adaptive uses, with particular consideration for the recreation needs of seniors.
• Purchase N’Kwala Park if the School District is interested in selling it.
• Upgrade existing community and neighbourhood parks as required. The following are potential upgrading needs:
• Develop a trail around Cool’s Pond to provide more opportunity for recreation.
• Upgrade the lacrosse facility at Creekside Park.
• Improve the access and parking at Coldstream Park.
The following are principles that should be used to guide acquisition and development of community and neighbourhood parks:
• Locate community parks adjacent to secondary schools where possible.
• Locate community recreation facilities in or adjacent to community parks where possible.
• Locate community parks near natural areas or trails where possible.
• Locate neighbourhood parks adjacent to elementary schools where possible.
• Locate neighbourhood parks central to neighbourhoods with street frontage and access from all four sides if possible.
• Dispose of underutilized park properties smaller than 0.2 ha that have financial value in locations already well served by neighbourhood parks, where the surrounding community will support this.
• Increase the size of neighbourhood parks smaller than 0.2 ha in locations that are not well served by neighbourhood parks.
• Encourage the School District and college to recognize school grounds and campuses as park areas and to develop or improve them accordingly.
*************************************************************************************
OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES
Ball Diamonds
Vernon has a total of 34 ball diamonds, of which 24 are for softball (slo-pitch or fastball), and 10 are baseball (9 minor and 1 adult).
Vernon has a softball diamond supply of 1/2,116 population, a very high supply. The baseball diamond supply is 1/5,080 population. This is also a large number of fields for the size of the community. An analysis was conducted of field use in relation to capacity. Using a conservative estimate of capacity (Monday to Saturday week, Saturday based on 9 to 3 pm only, 2 hour blocks for ball games, one block per weekday evening for fields without lights, 2 blocks for fields with lights), the field use in relation to capacity is 55% for school fields, and 75% for fields in parks.
The largest group of ball diamond users in the community is the various adult slo-pitch leagues who together have over 1,000 members. The minor fastball (also called fastpitch) league serves around 180 girls; fastball can use the same diamonds as slo-pitch. There is only one adult baseball league, and a minor baseball league that had 450 members in 2000. Slo-pitch participation is steady, minor fastball is stable, and minor baseball participation is decreasing.
In addition to the above league play that includes practices, games and tournaments, a Funtastic tournament is held in Vernon every summer on the July 1 long weekend. In 2003, 320 teams participated, making this the largest amateur event in Western Canada. Mixed slo-pitch is the central event, with most of the activity occuring on the DND site. The group hopes to build Funtastic Place in Vernon, a major slopitch tournament facility.
Recommendations
• Work on partnership agreements with School District to enable GVSC to renovate and maintain school fields to a higher standard and to enable access to washrooms.
• Focus on minor fastball at Grahame by moving adults elsewhere, e.g. new field at DND or Funtastic Place, especially since two of the fields at Grahame are too small for adult use.
Sports Fields
Vernon has a total of 51 sports fields. These are used primarily for soccer, but other uses include football, rugby, field lacrosse, track and field, fly fishing practice, grass volleyball, Special Olympics, and ultimate (frisbee).
Vernon has a sports field supply of 1/996 population. This is a very high standard of supply. An analysis was conducted of field use in relation to capacity. Using a conservative estimate of capacity (Monday to Saturday week, Saturday based on 9 to 3 pm only, 1½ hr blocks for soccer, one block per weekday evening), the field use in relation to capacity is 43% for school fields, and 73% for fields in parks.
The North Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (NOYSA) is the primary user of sports fields. With about 2000 members in the 2003 season, membership is stable and their season of use is April to November. The NOYSA uses all park and school fields except ones that are in poor condition. They host 3 tournaments per year. There are also men’s and women’s soccer leagues in the community.
There are several important trends occurring in soccer. One is a move towards artificial turf, which can sustain much higher levels of play year-round, and many B.C. communities now have or are developing such fields. Another is indoor artificial turf practice facilities, e.g., Western Indoor Soccer, Burnaby. These are very popular for training. The third factor is the hiring of full time soccer development coordinators to improve the sport. These factors are leading to a more active soccer community and worn, over-utilized fields.
The other groups that use sports fields include: senior mens’ rugby, minor football, high school football, field lacrosse, track and field, fly fishing practice, grass volleyball, Special Olympics, and ultimate (frisbee). Ultimate is a relatively new activity. With just over 50 regular members in the Greater Vernon area, the league hosted a major weekend tournament in recent years, and also hosts several smaller tournaments annually.
Recommendations
• Work on partnership agreements with School District to enable GVSC to renovate and maintain school fields to a higher standard.
• Support the development of an indoor soccer facility. Potential locations in order of priority: Kin Park, OUC site or area. If possible, locate the indoor soccer fields at the same site as the new premium soccer fields.
• If an artificial turf field is developed, upgrade or develop 2 additional fields in the next 10 years.
• Options: renovate fields at Kal Secondary, Vernon Secondary, or BX Elementary.
• Develop 2 new fields in proposed parks.
• If an artificial turf field is not developed, upgrade or develop 6 additional fields in the next 10 years.
• Options: renovate fields at Kal Secondary, Vernon Secondary, BX Elementary, Kidston, Hillview #1
• Develop 6 new fields in proposed parks.
• Develop a new fieldhouse with washroom, concession and storage at any proposed major new field complex.
• Develop a package and staff support to encourage tournaments in the community in collaboration with Sport North Okanagan, GVSC Economic Development and Community Futures.
These are the more important points relating to sport fields and community parks. For further information please visit:
http://www.greatervernon.ca/user_files/File/PRC/parks_master_plan_mar2004.pdf
**********************************
No comments:
Post a Comment