BOAT PATROL | RCMP continue to enforce, and ticket, boating infractions on area lakes [A12]
Morning gStar
The
Sunday, July 29, 2012
P R O U D L Y
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
O K A N A G A N
“KLICK KLICK” OUR TIRES! @
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
O V E R
2 0
Y E A R S
www.bannisters.com GM
Justice Park in spotlight
EYE FOR ART
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Rhys Taylor-Hawes, eight, pays close attention to each stroke of her brush as she paints a wind sock at the Vernon Public Art Gallery’s Kids Art Camp: Art Outside the Gallery Wednesday.
Sports complex on sidelines RICHARD ROLKE
If a referendum to borrow up to $8.5 million is held this November, legislative procedures for There’s concern that plans for a Greater the vote would have to begin soon. Vernon sports complex have Also, when the Agricultural Land stalled. Commission approved use of the site in The Regional District of November 2011, it stated the facility must North Okanagan board agreed in be developed within three years. May to move towards a referenDirector Jim Garlick admits he wondum for a track and field facility ders where regional district staff are with next to Okanagan College. But planning. no details about the process has “There’s been nothing acted upon,” he surfaced since then. said, adding he also wants some answers Mike Macnabb “We will be asking our adminat Thursday’s Greater Vernon Advisory istrator where things are at during Committee meeting. our next meeting,” said director Mike Macnabb. One possible reason for the delay in progress “We have to be proactive because of time- is the ongoing restructuring of the parks and lines.” recreation function. Morning Star Staff
While he agrees restructuring is taking time, Garlick says, “It’s not a reason to not move ahead on other initiatives.” If there is a referendum this fall, considerable effort will be directed towards informing taxpayers about the project. “I’m not sure the economy will support it at this time, but referendum is the direction we wanted to go and the question will have to be asked,” said Macnabb. Garlick also isn’t sure how the public will respond to borrowing funds. “I want to see what the support will be. It will be up to the community in the end,” he said. Preliminary designs include an Olympicsize rubberized track, a lighted artificial playing field, a field house and bleachers.
View All Listings and Open Houses at … www.TheRightAgents.com
Each office is independently owned and operated * Based on 2011 closed transactions. Source: CREA, RE?MAX. ** Source Independent Research December, 2011
A small corner of downtown Vernon may not be keeping up with the times. While the east end of 30th Avenue has redeveloped with the new library and office towers, Justice Park remains unchanged and largely unused. “The park isn’t as user-friendly as it could be when families and seniors are at the library and office workers are looking to eat their lunch,” said Annette Sharkey, with the Partners Sharkey in Action group. The other issue is a perception that the park has previously had issues with criminal activities and may not be safe. Through Partners in Action, a number of agencies have come together and are trying to determine how to make the park more usable. The lead agency has been the Downtown Vernon Association while other participants include the Social Planning Council, Independent Living Vernon, the City of Vernon, Tolko Industries, Nixon Wenger and Okanagan Regional Library. The provincial government also needs to be involved because it owns the property. Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, and his staff have pledged their support. “We’re trying to determine if there is any money that could be coming forward,” said Sharkey of Victoria. “We’re looking to see if there’s a chance to make physical changes to the space.” Substantial upgrades may not be necessary. “There needs to be more seating and more inviting so people spend more time there,” said Sharkey.