Parks restructuring nearly forced the prized Jeffers Park from the maintenance schedule in Coldstream.
While the park is not owned by the district, it is a popular place for children and families year-round in Lavington, with its ice rink.
“It is really well used and referred to by many as a gem,” said Edith Thoreson, Lavington Community Association director.
The LCA, a small group of volunteers, looks after Jeffers Park year-round, with a break in the summer. During that time, regional district parks staff mowed the grass at the park previously.
The LCA already presented concerns to Coldstream about Jeffers Park in the past, due to the regional parks transfers.
“We were told that they were working to give us the same level of service or better,” said Thoreson.
Yet a staff recommendation at Monday’s council meeting read: “remove Jeffers Park from the District of Coldstream’s maintenance contract.”
Council agreed to remove that line from the recommendation.
“Primarily it’s just cutting of the grass and it’s not a huge amount of grass,” said Coun. Doug Dirk.
Coldstream took over parks as of Jan. 1, 2014 and has been analyzing the services and costs.
Part of the discussion has included estimating costs to bring the Kalavista Road log house up to code for residential use.
The Kalview tennis courts are also being looked at again.
Following tenders which came in way over budget, Coldstream is reducing the scope of the base constructions by half at an estimated budget of $90,000.
