Memorial Park Plan
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District of West Kelowna Memorial Park Plan October, 2013 Memorial Park Plan October 2013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Memorial Park Plan has been prepared for the District of West Kelowna (DWK) by Golder Associates Ltd. The project was conducted with the assistance and guidance of: o Mark Roberts, Parks Planning Analyst; o Dallas Clowes, Senior Planner; and o Nancy Henderson, Director of Development Services. The District of West Kelowna Council participated in the review of the plan to provide direction to ensure the plan fits within the West Kelowna community context. District Council is comprised of: o Mayor Doug Findlater; o Councillor Rick de Jong; o Councillor David Knowles; o Councillor Gord Milsom; o Councillor Duane Ophus; o Councillor Bryden Winsby; and o Councillor Carol Zanon. During this process, communication with local residents provided valuable insights and ideas into the future role of Memorial Park in West Kelowna. To the West Kelowna residents who gave their time and shared their ideas in the development of this plan through the public open house, feedback forms, emails and the public survey – thank you for providing us with your insights. The Consulting Team: Sarah Cloherty, Designer, Golder Associates Ltd. Jana Zelenski, Associate, Sr. Landscape Architect, Golder Associates Ltd. i Memorial Park Plan October 2013 ii Memorial Park Plan October 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Memorial Park (formerly Westbank Community Park) is a community park in the Westbank Centre Neighbourhood. The park is located adjacent to Johnson Bentley Memorial Centre (JBMAC) off West Kelowna’s Old Okanagan Highway. The northwest corner of the site is former Westbank Irrigation District (WID) property that is now owned by the District of West Kelowna (DWK). Currently, the park is used for casual field activities, skateboarding and Memorial Park today hosting community events including Westside Daze and Music in the Park. The park’s topography creates a bowl around a grass field and stage area, providing a natural amphitheatre. The stage and skate park are important site features; however, they are at an age and state of deterioration where it is time to consider their future. A need to upgrade existing features, combined with the increasing popularity of Westside Daze and Music in the Park, and a desire to create a community memorial space, prompted the creation of the Memorial Park Plan. Figure 1: Memorial Park iii Memorial Park Plan October 2013 Memorial Park Objectives Four main objectives for the future of Memorial Park were identified during the planning process (see Section 3.2 for additional detail): Continue to support community events at Memorial Park; Create a unique recreation destination in West Kelowna; Enhance park safety and security, and; Create a space to recognize and commemorate members of the community. Performance at Memorial Park Park Concept Public input indicated the following priorities should be the focus of improvements to Memorial Park: Develop tiered seating in front of the stage; Improve safety and security; Provide a new bike skills park; Provide a new skate park; Provide an improved and expanded stage; Develop a playground; and Increase and formalize the parking. Figure 4: Memorial Park Plan (p.9) shows the park concept and recommendations for the park. Figure 5: Proposed Phasing Plan (p.10) shows suggested phasing for the recommendations. iv Memorial Park Plan October 2013 Recommendations A set of detailed recommendations support the implementation of the ideas, values and priorities generated through the planning process. Two types of recommendations were developed through the planning process: 1. Capital Recommendations (CR): These recommendations will require capital investment, through municipal funding or other funding strategies, to improve Memorial Park. PHASE 1 CAPITAL RECOMMENDATIONS (2013 - 2015) Phase 1 focuses on completing detailed design and assessments for proposed park improvements, including: Completing development permit processes and undertaking geotechnical and topographical survey of the park; Completing tiered seating to better accommodate community events; Adding a bike skills park to provide a new recreation feature at Memorial Park, and; Expanding parking south of the field. See p.15 for the Phase 1 Capital Recommendations. It is anticipated that these recommendations will be completed between 2013 - 2015. PHASE 2 CAPITAL RECOMMENDATIONS (2016 - 2020) Phase 2 focuses on supporting the amenities added in Phase 1 by improving accessibility within the park and also recommends additional recreation amenities, including: Additional parking north of JBMAC with new road connection; A drop-off loop; A trail connection between JBMAC and the north parking lot; A new skate park (construction may occur sooner if funding can be allocated); A new playground, and; Field Improvements. See p.20 for the Phase 2 Capital Recommendations. These upgrades are anticipated to occur between 2016-2020, as funding can be allocated. v Memorial Park Plan October 2013 PHASE 3 CAPITAL RECOMMENDATIONS (2020+) Phase 3 focuses on completing proposed upgrades to Memorial Park. While important, these improvements were not among the top priorities identified by participants during the planning process. Recommendations include: Creating a new permanent stage; Upgrading the slope adjacent to JBMAC; Creating a trail connection and crosswalk to link JBMAC entrance and the field, and; Developing Memorial Grove. See p.26 for the Phase 3 Capital Recommendations. These upgrades are anticipated to occur beyond 2020, as funding can be allocated, but could be completed sooner if opportunities arise. Opportunities to secure alternative sources of funding such as grants, donations and other sources, will be critical to completing the Phases 2 and 3 Capital Recommendations. Table 2 (p.13), Table 3 (p.14) and Table 4 (p.15) provide budget estimates for the Capital Recommendations. 2. Operational Recommendations (OR): These recommendations focus on ideas for planning initiatives, program development and management strategies for the park. Recommendations include: General Guidelines; Park Security & Safety; Recreational Programming; Funding Strategies, and; Operations & Maintenance. See p.29 for the Operational Recommendations. vi Memorial Park Plan October 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................. i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................... vii 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose of the Park Plan ............................................................. 1 1.2 The Study Process ........................................................................ 2 2.0 PARK CONTEXT & EXISTING CONDITIONS ....................... 3 2.1 Context......................................................................................... 3 2.2 Existing Conditions & Park Use .................................................... 4 2.3 Park Use & Programming ............................................................. 7 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................... 7 3.1 Concept Development Process .................................................... 7 3.2 Park Vision & Objectives .............................................................. 7 3.3 Budget Planning & Development .............................................. 11 3.4 Implementation of the Plan ....................................................... 11 3.5 Implementation Summary Tables ............................................. 11 3.6 Capital Recommendations (CR) – Phase 1 (2013 – 2015) .......... 15 3.7 Capital Recommendations (CR) – Phase 2 (2016 – 2020) .......... 20 3.8 Capital Recommendations (CR) – Phase 3 (2020 & Beyond) ..... 26 3.9 Operational Recommendations (OR)......................................... 29 FIGURES Figure 1: Memorial Park ...................................................................................... iii Figure 2: Memorial Park within West Kelowna .................................................... 3 Figure 3: Existing Park Features ............................................................................ 4 Figure 4: Memorial Park Plan ............................................................................... 9 Figure 5: Proposed Phasing Plan ........................................................................ 10 vii Memorial Park Plan October 2013 TABLES Table 1: Existing Park Features ........................................................................... 5 Table 2: Implementation Summary Table for Phase 1 Capital Recommendations .............................................................................. 12 Table 3: Implementation Summary Table for Phase 2 Capital Recommendations .............................................................................. 13 Table 4: Implementation Summary Table for Phase 3 Capital Recommendations .............................................................................. 13 APPENDICES Appendix A: Public Feedback Survey Appendix B: Public Feedback Survey – Summary Report Appendix C: Open House Response Form Appendix D: Open House Response Form – Summary Report Appendix E: Open House Input Summary viii Memorial Park Plan October 2013 1.0 INTRODUCTION Memorial Park is a community park within the