People for the Park
Cedar Avenue Beach Access Kelowna, BC, Canada

There are now two vacant and very run down waterfront rental homes at the foot of Cedar Avenue. They are beside one another and next to the existing tiny Meikle Avenue road end beach. If a park is indeed the city's future plan (they did rezone it to P3 last month), why not start now and have a pretty large beach for next summer? Would it be reasonable to spend tens of thousands of dollars to renovate these homes and then rent them at well under market rates as waterfront home...s, only to demolish them later to make a park? Would this make any sense at all? If money for demolition is already in the 2014 city budget (it is), what could it possibly cost after demolition to just plant some grass and leave it like the other unserviced beach fronts that thousands of people enjoy? Even if there are some future grandiose menus on the back burner (that people may or may not want), using the land now for a basic park is giving the people a fantastic new beach at about the same cost as revenue-neutral rentals. Here is what I think. P3 zoning is used to create parks like Gyro and Rotary. However, the zone can surprisingly also be used for restaurants, retail stores and social clubhouses (the paddle club already has been given their space). These uses fit the zoning rules, which means there is no legal requirement for public input into a decision (you have elected council to make those decisions on your behalf). The frustration I have is that no one on the current council has stood up to say what they want, claiming they can't until the money is available. How can you argue something is not affordable if you have no idea what you want in the first place? This all leads me to wonder (again) what is really cooking (as in restaurant) behind the scenes (instead of across the street where it belongs). Maybe they want to tie up the new parkland for several more years so that people won't use or fall in love with it. Opening it up for park now would only make it much harder for council to try and build something that was legal but greasy and not widely supported. Let's see if anyone on council or the other candidates can help clarify their position. After all, once they are elected, they will have had your vote and legally no longer need your input. Would you like fries with that?

There appears to be two vacant city-owned rental homes in the some-day park. The one located next to Meikle Avenue has been vacant since August and the home next door is also now vacant. These are normally very popular rentals but they are not in very good condition and might need expensive repairs. Apparently they are to be rented and will be on the city's rental listing page but no timeline was given. Delays for repair is understandable but there has been no activity. Also, if repairs are needed, why invest into something that is soon to be torn down?

City council voted unanimously to rezone all of the city-owned residential lots to P3 - Parks and Open Space. This was a huge shift in direction after enduring many contentious years of pressure to sell the land for mixed hotel, commercial and residential development. Despite the welcomed rezoning, the vision for parkland use is still undermined. The city has already reserved about 1/3 of the land for a private-member paddle club (no public aaccess). The remaining 2/3 has be...en left as is with rental homes and no public access for the foreseeable future. This city claims they have no plans in the works nor any money to provide even a basic public park (e.g. trees and grass). The public needs to be aware of what can be done within P3 zoning; a park is just one option. Others include: - participant recreation services, outdoor and indoor - community recreation services - food primary establishment - liquor primary establishment, minor - retail stores, general As such, the park vision many people share could still be lost unless we remain vocal and proactive. Thanks for staying connected.

Looks like this coming Monday (and before council votes to even make the park happen) council will agree to expand the paddle club into the home next door for December. When done It will occupy about 27% of the park that has yet to be made into park. The lease will be for 5 years plus 2 + 2 at a whopping one dollar per year rent. I guess they feel there is no need for public input to determine if this is the right term or location. Meanwhile, it appears the rest of the park will be left to rot for a few more years. So much for transparency.

The Little Park That Could "I hope everyone can take a break and read this. Communication is the key to a great community!" And so, from its original inception in 1989, some 25 years ago, those who had the vision, and those who have lobbied over the past ten years will have the opportunity to congratulate City Council at the Public Hearing at City Hall on Tuesday evening October 7th. Thirteen magnificent waterfront properties along Abbott and Walnut streets where Cedar Avenue...Continue reading