Residents have expressed concerns to the City of Parksville about a proposed location for a new Parksville aquatic and recreation centre.
A public statement released by Deb Tardiff, manager of communications for the city, indicated the city would like to address those concerns and clarify the information provided on Let’s Talk Parksville.
For phase one of the feasibility study for the centre, a Despard Avenue site was selected as a test site for conceptual design and further consideration.
Most of the facility, as shown on preliminarily conceptual plans, is envisioned to be located on non-parkland parcels owned by the city. A small section of park is shown as providing potential parking and access for the multiplex facility and Parksville Wetlands. This section is less than two acres of the 90 acres on Parksville Wetlands property. The proposed location is expected to have no impact on the wetlands, located some distance away, and the proposed location assists with preserving second growth trees to the south of the site, as noted in the environmental overview assessment report prepared by WSP Canada and available on the project site.
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The map included shows option one of two, and is intended to better show the location of the proposed facility in relation to the surrounding land. These are ‘proof of concept’ plans and further adjustments should be anticipated. The preliminary environmental assessment indicates the watercourses in the project area do not interact with the wetland features, but enhancement work for the watercourses could be designed to benefit the ecology of the wetlands and other features to the north, located on the parkland.
In 1997, the wetlands property was privately owned and the city registered an agreement to allow for public recreation access to the land; this covenant area is wholly unaffected by the proposed project.
The information provided to the public in the phase one feasibility study is intended as a starting point and opportunity for public input and to fine-tune the concepts presented. The city will engage in an in-person community consultation as soon as it is safe to do so. For now, they encourage public input through the Let’s Talk Parksville site and via email at Letstalk@parksville.ca
— NEWS Staff, submitted