File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Sadie Hunter

In The Loop

HUNTER: Helping everyone enjoy some sunshine in city parks

Mar 28, 2023 | 9:47 AM

WALKING THROUGH RIVERSIDE PARK THIS WEEKEND, signs of spring were everywhere. I walk Rivers Trail frequently and this weekend the trail and park sprang to life with activity.

Pickleball, tennis, bicycles, scooters, walkers and rollers, all signs of what’s to come over the next few months. The first really nice weekend after a long winter revives our community from hibernation – even the grizzly bears at the Kamloops Wildlife Park arose from their slumber.

As I watched people enjoying the sun, stopping to enjoy a saxophone player serenading the river at the flood markers, I felt rejuvenated. I was filled with a sense of optimism and excitement for all of the activity to come as we warm up to the summer. I was also reminded just how important access to public spaces and parks are to building community.

Kamloops has more than 100 municipal parks, covering more than 1,500 hectares. These parks range from city‑wide parks, such as Riverside Park, to community parks, neighbourhood parks and tot lots. An interactive map of parks and trails in the city offers a quick and easy way to find out where they are located and what amenities are available.

What I’d love to see added to this map, and any other city park and recreation-related information, is an accessibility index. (Maybe that would be a good project for the city’s new Accessibility Engagement Group when it forms.) This would help both residents and visitors know what to expect and where they might want to go or where to avoid. This thought came to mind as I watched the spectrum of people out enjoying the sunshine and Riverside Park, which is a go-to for me – especially when I’m having mobility challenges like I am right now.

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During the course of my personal physical limitation experience, I’ve used the Rivers Trail in a wheelchair, with a walker, on crutches and with a cane. I have the benefit of living here and the experience of knowing what park access is the best, the best places to park, and what parts of the trail might offer a challenge – for example, the sloped access off Lansdowne at Third Avenue.

This idea is also top of mind with the much-anticipated May 20 opening of the city’s first fully accessible playground and waterpark at Riverside Park and after a recent meeting with planners working on the Tranquille Corridor upgrades through my board role with People in Motion. Establishing an accessibility index would be a great opportunity to engage seniors and those with diverse abilities in a conversation to understand what might limit them from accessing our beautiful open spaces and how we can make them more accessible.

PlanH, implemented by BC Healthy Communities, states parks and green spaces are “places to connect with other people in the community and improve social well-being.” KAMPLAN (Kamloops’ Official Community Plan) also recognizes that “parks, open space and recreational facilities contribute to the health and wellness of residents and visitors by providing a diversity of lifestyle choices and opportunities.” The stated goal of parks and recreational facilities is to “provide health benefits through active and passive recreation opportunities and strengthen social networks by serving as key community gathering places.”

Let’s take advantage of this resurgence of activity in our parks to re-energize the conversation around accessibility, helping to ensure everyone in our community is able to get out and enjoy the sun in our parks.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.