TNRD seeking public feedback to develop Parks and Trails Strategic Plan
All TNRD residents — in municipalities and electoral areas — can take a short survey, which is open until Oct. 7
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is developing its first Parks and Trails Strategic Plan, and all TNRD residents — whether they live in an electoral area or in one of the TNRD’s 11 member municipalities — are invited to take part in a short survey that will help shape the plan and guide development and/or expansion of parks and trails in the region.
“The strategic plan will develop opportunities for further park development, as well as strategic partnerships and trail development,” says Sherri Madden, the TNRD’s community services coordinator.
“The important thing is recognizing what the accomplishments are in the parks we have, and educating people on what we have and what the potential opportunities may be.”
The TNRD currently has 11 community parks, with all but two — Keekwillie Park near Kamloops and Smith Pioneer Park near Merritt — located in Electoral Areas “A” and “B” in the North Thompson. That area also hosts the TNRD’s Blue River Trails System.
There are three regional parks: Barriere Forks Regional Park near Barriere, Little Hell’s Gate Regional Park between Blue River and Avola, and the South Thompson River Buoy System in the Kamloops area. There are also 19 undeveloped parks, which are primarily pieces of land dedicated as park space within subdivisions. Two undeveloped parks are located south of Spences Bridge, while another is at Loon Lake.
TNRD community parks are funded mainly by taxation in the specific electoral areas where these parks are located, while regional parks are funded equally by all TNRD electoral areas and member municipalities. Due to the Regional Park system being largely undeveloped, taxation for this service is $0.06 or $0.07 per $100,000 of assessed value in 2024 for all TNRD properties.
Madden says that the survey — which has been open Since Sept. 6 — has received more than 200 responses, but only three have been from Ashcroft. Three responses from Area “I” have been received, and two from Area “E”, but none from Clinton.
She isn’t surprised by the lack of response from areas that have no TNRD community or regional parks. However, she says that makes input from these areas even more valuable.
“It’s important that areas which are currently underserved participate in the survey process so that the TNRD can be informed if there are wants and/or needs in those areas. If an area is already well-served by parks and trails, the TNRD would not be looking to establish anything there unless there is an unmet need. But is there an opportunity to do a trail from Cache Creek to Ashcroft through Area ‘I’?”
She adds that the strategic plan will also try to pull together existing resources such as trails so there are complementary assets, and look to coordinate with other stakeholders. “If we do work in the future we need to think of what others are doing as opposed to working in silos. Maybe we can get some unauthorized trails authorized, which enables them to be marketed, funded, maintained, or expanded.”
Madden notes that Area “A” has had opportunities for TNRD staff to manage park assets since 2003, while Area “B” has had the same opportunity since 2008.
“That’s the reason why the TNRD parks in those areas are so well-developed: there’s been a staff person, and residents there paid for that. This Parks and Trails Strategic Plan can expand that model.”
She says that the survey is an opportunity for residents to provide input that will inform the strategic plan. “We’ve already engaged with First Nations and with multiple stakeholders: recreational, municipal, school districts, Interior Health, provincial ministries, tourism organizations, the TNRD accessibility committee. We’ve had really good uptake.”
Following the survey, and more engagement with stakeholders during the fall of 2024, a draft of the Parks and Trails Strategic Plan will be developed and shared with the public to receive feedback. The plan is expected to be fully completed in 2025, and will evaluate existing TNRD parks and trail assets, designate assets as community or regional parks, identify opportunities for future development, investigate potential partnerships, determine prioritization of projects, and more.
“The plan is to inform the TNRD Board of Directors about strategic priorities, and adopt the plan as a framework for how we move forward with future parks and trails,” says Madden.
“And if we don’t have your participation, how will we know to come and build?”
The survey is open until Monday, Oct. 7, and can be accessed online at surveymonkey.com/r/TNRDparkstrails. Anyone who would like a paper copy, or who needs support to complete the survey, can contact TNRD Community Services at [email protected]. For more information about the TNRD’s existing parks and trails, or the strategic plan, go to tnrd.ca/parks-strategy.
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