Parksville residents will get a chance this weekend to respond to recommendations in the draft Community Park Master Plan, which was unveiled to council Oct. 2.
The student consulting team from Vancouver Island University will present the draft Community Park Master Plan to the public for its consideration and comments this Saturday, Oct. 28. The drop-in public open house will be held at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The feedback has already begun.
At last week’s Parksville city council meeting, Oct. 16, Cheryl Dill of the Parksville Beach Festival Society called for a concert facility with stage, green room and spectator seating — and said the society is holding some money for such a project.
Hugh Bohm of the Parksville Oceanside Pickleball Club followed with a request for a new playing surface on the lacrosse box, which is used by athletes in several sports.
The draft plan presented by the students to council on Oct. 2 included their findings and draft recommendations and focused on methodology, guiding principles, priority recommendations and the short- to long-term concept visions for the Community Park.
Some of the recommendations, including a new park name, potential introduction of user fees and removal of the existing Parksville Curling Club arena, have already drawn response.
Others, like the creation of a concert space, dovetail with the wishes of the beach festival society and other groups.
The public is encouraged to drop in on Oct. 28 to provide comments on the draft plan. These comments will then go to council for its consideration when approving the final Community Park Master Plan.
Since the project first started early this year, VIU students have held a variety of public engagement and consultation activities to inform the 20-year vision and master plan for the Community Park. Engagement included such events as Parks on the Streets, a World Café, Gazebo Talks, one-on-one picnic table meetings and online and in-person surveys.
The draft Community Park Master Plan is available from the home page of the City’s website.— NEWS Staff/
City of Parksville release