After a year of consultations, public engagement and three draft designs, the future of Penticton’s Robinson property has been finalized.

On July 2, council was presented the final plan for the property, which is located at 2905 South Main St. and is the home of the Seniors’ Drop-In Centre and the city’s pickleball courts. It was explained that since the centre’s lease will soon expire and the pickleball courts are at capacity, the city felt it necessary to have a master plan that addressed all of the needs of the property users.

“The plan intends to balance the park space, with a variety of activities and facilities that cater to the demographics that have historically used this property,” stated the report to council. “Furthermore, this master plan aims to provide direction and implement a strategy to manage the growth and future uses of this site.”

READ MORE: Penticton residents ‘happy’ with direction of Robinson Property development plans

This new plan is an amalgamation of the most favoured components of three draft designs, which were narrowed down thanks to the feedback the city received during the open houses held on May 30 and June 1. Some highlights of the plans include the installation of an entrance canopy for the seniors’ centre and an entrance sign for the park in general, as well as sound barrier installations, shade structures, fitness equipment and a seating area.

The plan also allows for the potential future expansion of the Senior’s Drop-In Centre. The estimated construction cost for the Robinson property development was estimated by the city to be $1 million, not including the centre’s expansion.

“Implementation of this plan and construction will be dependent on available funding including partnerships and grants,” stated the report.

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Staff said all stakeholders on the property—the Senior’s Drop-In Centre, Horseshoe Club, Bocce Club and Pickleball Club—were satisfied with the end result of the process and provided letters of support for the final plan. Certain expansions as part of this project will impact other aspects of the property, with the horseshoe pits needing to be reconfigured to allow for the addition of more pickleball courts as an example, so staff said the implementation will be strategic.

“This is a really exciting one to support, being a liaison with the drop-in centre it’s really caused a buzz down there and they’re really looking forward to expansions,” said Coun. Katie Robinson. “I know that we’re going to have a really exciting future down there.”

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