A plan has been adopted for the area that the mayor’s family grew up calling: Secret park.
The Marjorie Pritchard Memorial Park Plan was adopted by the District of West Kelowna council on Tuesday.
The process of completing the plan involved direct communication with local residents and Pritchard Park neighbours, who provided insights and ideas into the future role of Pritchard Park in West Kelowna.
The plan will aid the district in determining capital and operational priorities for the park by providing recommendations for implementing park improvements identified through the planning process.
“I think this is great,” said Mayor Doug Findlater.
“My family has used this park off and on in the summer months for nearly 35 years. When I first moved to the Westside when our kids were little, that was the place that we took them. It was a great, secluded, safe, little park. We called it secret park at the time.”
The plan was conducted in four phases beginning in November, 2011 and concluding in February, 2012.
In the summer of 2011, the district purchased 1595 Pritchard Drive: A residential property that formerly separated the 0.49 hectare Pritchard Park and the 0.13 hectare Pritchard Road Utility Lot.
The purchase was made to create a unified waterfront park space 0.70 hectares in size.
The district has been renting out the property since it was purchased; however, council opted to withdraw renewal of the tenancy rental contract for the building when it expires on April 15.
Council also unanimously authorized staff to use up to $40,000 from discretionary funds to complete the immediate demolition or removal of the building and restoration of green space.
“We don’t have a lot of green space in our community and this is going to be a really lovely addition when it’s finished,” said Coun. Carol Zanon.
“It’s a gem right now and it’s going to be a diamond.”
wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com
