Seven years after ‘parkade in the park,’ Kamloops resident decries ‘market in the park’ proposal

A rendering of the proposal obtained by Madsen shows a 35,000 square foot building containing a mix of permanent and day stalls for vendors, as well as a “flex space” for special events.

Next to the building is an outdoor area containing 100 vendor stalls for the seasonal farmer’s market.

“I just believe putting commercial industry of any kind into our downtown park is going to set a precedent and all kinds of other industries and businesses and so on are going to want to be in the park. I believe our park is sacred and needs to be kept a park only,” said Madsen.

Information on the market proposal has circulated among some neighbourhood associations, but Madsen says it was also discussed at an in-camera council meeting Tuesday morning.

She believes the discussion should be much more transparent.

“I just find that outrageous. I’ve been here 50 years and when something is going to affect a community, I expect them to go out to the community before they even consider a project such as this,” said Madsen.

For his part, Mayor Ken Christian told Madsen this is much ado about a proposal that is not being formally considered by the city.

“There’s nothing to report. There’s nothing going on,” said Christian during the ‘Public Inquiries’ section of Tuesday’s meeting. “When there is, there would be consultation with your [downtown] community.”

Madsen alluded to the professionalism and expense evident in the proposal, but Christian told her that did not originate at city hall.

“That would have been done by the proponents of the idea. This is not anything that the City of Kamloops council has engaged,” said Christian.

by James Peters

Seven years after ‘parkade in the park,’ Kamloops resident decries ‘market in the park’ proposal

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