PARKS AND TRAILS SECTION 14
Background
14.1 The City of Revelstoke is well-served by its existing park system. The City's parks range in scale from small neighbourhood facilities to large areas dedicated to various recreational uses. Major parks and related facilities include: - Revelstoke Golf and Country Club located in Columbia Park;
- Centennial Park, offering both passive and active recreation opportunities, located in Central Revelstoke;
- Queen Elizabeth Park located near the intersection of Tenth Street and Vernon Avenue in Central Revelstoke;
- Equestrian Centre located off Airport Way south of the Illecillewaet River;
- large undeveloped park area south of Griffiths Road in the Big Eddy.
In addition to these major parks and facilities, there are small areas of dedicated parkland throughout all other residential neighbourhoods in Revelstoke. These are intended to serve the needs of the surrounding neighbourhood. Many are operated in conjunction with the school district. Some have not yet been developed with playground equipment or other facilities.
Columbia View Provincial Park is also located within City boundaries just south of the Revelstoke Dam and Generating Station. Mount Revelstoke National Park borders the City at its north and east boundaries.
The City of Revelstoke is also developing a system of linear parks/trails or greenways. The purpose of the greenway is to provide an integrated system of walkways in Revelstoke. Furthermore, this system can serve to connect natural areas and features in the community. The greenway concept was initially explored in the early 1980s and recently confirmed through the updated City of Revelstoke Greenway Plan completed in December of 1992. This Greenway Plan envisions a framework of trails and linkages organized into four component trails: - Downtown Trail (Revelstoke Golf and Country Club to Downtown Revelstoke at foot of Campbell Avenue);
- Centennial Park Trail (foot of Campbell Avenue to mouth of Illecillewaet River);
- Illecillewaet Trail (mouth of Illecillewaet River to power stack on both sides of river);
- Big Eddy Trail (west side of Columbia River and north side of Tunkawatla River along dyke).
There are potential linkages beyond these four trails to connect to the Jordan River/Westside Road area, Mount Revelstoke, Cashato Bench in Arrow Heights and Williamson Lake/Mt. Mackenzie area outside of City boundaries.
Smaller trail linkages have also been suggested for other parts of the City. These include: - trail linking lands above high water mark to promontory in Columbia River between Highway #1 bridge over Columbia River and rock outcrop east of Big Eddy in Columbia River. This linkage would be subject to periodic inundation;
- trail extending north of Illecillewaet River along Bridge Creek;
- trail along base of bluff separating Centennial Park from Revelstoke Secondary School. This could be integrated with the Centennial Park trail component of the overall Greenway Plan.
Objectives
14.2 It is Council's objective to develop and maintain a system of parks, trails and associated recreation facilities to serve the needs of local residents and visitors to the community.
Policies
14.3 It is Council's policy to designate parks, the golf course, sport and activity fields, the equestrian centre, undeveloped park lands and linear parks as park and trails on Schedule C - Land Use Map.
14.4 It is Council's policy to update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The outcome of this exercise may result in amendments to the Official Community Plan.
14.5 It is Council's policy to work with the school district and other institutions in encouraging joint use of park and recreation facilities at school sites by the public.
14.6 It is Council's policy to require dedication of parkland at the time of subdivision in the Cashato Bench area of Arrow Heights, as shown by the `P' symbol denoting Future Park on Schedule C - Land Use Map.
14.7 In addition, Council will require dedication of parkland at the time of subdivision in order to acquire land along the Greenway Plan route shown on Schedule C - Land Use Map.
14.8 Notwithstanding Policy 14.6 and 14.7 above, it is Council's policy to require payment in lieu of parkland dedication for subdivisions in areas which have the potential to yield fewer than ten parcels under prevailing zoning anywhere in the City.
14.9 Notwithstanding Policy 14.6 and 14.7 above, it is Council's policy to consider the option of requiring parkland dedication or payment in lieu of parkland dedications for subdivisions in areas which have the potential to yield ten or more parcels under prevailing zoning on a case-by-case basis.
The process Council will follow in considering this option is set out below: - application for subdivision involving ten or more parcels is received by City Subdivision Approving Officer;
- Subdivision Approving Officer forwards application to Recreation Committee of Council;
- Recreation Committee of Council evaluates option of requiring parkland dedication or payment in lieu of parkland dedication based on the following considerations;
- nature of proposed development;
- location of proposed development relative to existing parkland;
- area of land which would be dedicated as park and potential use/development;
- other relevant considerations;
- Recreation Committee of Council presents recommendation to whole Council;
- Council provides direction to Subdivision Approving Officer.
14.10 It is Council's policy to implement the Downtown Trail, Centennial Park Trail and Illecillewaet Trail components of the Greenway Plan. Council will work with the Illecillewaet Greenbelt Society and other community and service groups in implementing the Greenway Plan. Co-operative efforts with these other groups will include consideration of how the Greenway can function to link natural areas and habitats in the community.
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