Petition started by Central Okanagan residents to keep public park | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Petition started by Central Okanagan residents to keep public park

Image Credit: Change.org/Daeshel Heidelbach

Some Central Okanagan residents want to preserve green space in their community by keeping a well-known park.

“We are asking the District of Peachland to do what is right by purchasing (Turner Park) so that our local community can have their big, beautiful park back.  The space which used to be home to two ball fields, a children's playground, a sports box that was used for team sports year-round including hockey, hills for winter sledding, a parking lot, and all of the required infrastructure, was once a lifeblood to our community,” reads a petition started by Daeshel Heidelbach on change.org.

“Once greenspace is gone, it is usually gone forever.  Peachland does not have any publicly owned greenspace of this size, that is as multi-functional as this space.”

READ MORE: Temporary drive-in movie theatre coming to Peachland

Any land acquisitions by the District of Peachland would need to be considered in a closed meeting, but the Turner property is up for sale and residents have noticed that, said Peachland Mayor Cindy Fortin.

The property known as Turner Park, at 6114 Turner Road , was formally owned by School District No. 23, said Cheryl Wiebe, director of community service with the District of Peachland, via email. 

In 2006, SSC Ventures Ltd. purchased the property from the school district. Prior to 2006, the District of Peachland had a lease agreement with the school district to use and occupy Turner Park for public use. 

Initially, there was been an unwritten agreement between SSC Ventures Ltd. and the district to allow for public use of the property. From 2011-2018 there was a formal agreement between the District of Peachland and SSC Ventures Ltd. for public use. In 2018, the park was subject to storm damage, she said.

"Because there was an active development permit for residential development, the district cancelled its agreement with SSC Ventures rather than invest in the repairs," Wiebe said via email.

As of Sept. 19, the petition has gathered more than 200 signatures. The petition's goal is set at 500.

 


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