Kamloops Council authorizes temporary commercial activity at Riverside Park

“With the concession slated for demolition, this was an opportunity for us to use that space that’s existing without any further development in the park to do a pilot for potential kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, non-motorized water sports, as well as simple activities you find in the parks for families, potentially bocce ball or volleyball,” DeSantis said.

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DeSantis says she would also like to see food trucks cycled through the park on a weekly basis.

One community group wants nothing to do with the project, even on a trial basis.

“We don’t even want a foot in the door,” said Sheila Park, co-chairperson of Friends of Riverside Park.

The group believes there was not sufficient community engagement, making that point during Tuesday’s (May 18) council meeting. Park says they also fear the loss of green space.

“My biggest concern is there would be commercialization coming into the park,” she said. “There’s a bylaw that says that’s not to happen in terms of Riverside Park. People have clearly expressed during the Downtown Plan consultation times, they wanted the park left alone, they didn’t want commercial items coming into the park.”

Park points out there are already nearby businesses similar to those being proposed by Tourism Kamloops.

“There’s an e-bike rental at 150 Victoria Street, I googled it this morning,” Park said, “That’s what they’re talking about putting here. If they go to Victoria Street, drop off the bike, they can go shopping on Victoria Street and eat in a restaurant on Victoria Street.”

Despite opposition from Friends of Riverside Park, the motion to authorize the project was passed 7-2 by council. Councilors Denis Walsh and Arjun Singh were opposed.

Councillor Dale Bass says feels the new commercial activity in the park will not be overwhelming to park users.

“There seems to be this thought that we’re going to build a strip mall in there,” she said. “I’ve talked to Bev DeSantis at Tourism Kamloops, they’re talking about maybe kayak rentals. Not everybody can afford a kayak, but maybe a family could rent one for a day. She’s talking about food trucks; they go there anyhow.”

Bass says the City is seeing support for the initiative.

“There has been some pushback, but we also received letters from 46 businesses downtown and in the area in support of it. We’ve had a lot of support for it. Our tourism sector is suffering, we’ve got to do something about it, and for the people who say, “It’s a tranquil oasis; I don’t want it to change. I don’t want any little blade of grass to be hurt.’ It’s a pretty big park.”

A temporary exemption to the bylaw prohibiting commercial activity at Riverside Park has been authorized.

by Jill Sperling

Kamloops Council authorizes temporary commercial activity at Riverside Park

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