Parks Planning

Vernon's Parkland Paradox

Coursier Park - 0.42 ha/1.04 acres

Since 1978, the provision of parks and recreation services has been provided under the umbrella of the Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation District (GVPRD). The GVPRD included the City of Vernon, District of Coldstream, and Electoral Areas B and C of the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO). Managing parks on a regional basis makes a lot of sense, since residents of the City of Vernon often use parks in Coldstream and Areas B and C, and vice versa. It also helps with parkland acquisition, since the pooled fund is larger than if each jurisdiction had to acquire their own parks.

In 1991, the first Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the GVPRD was adopted. Many of the recommendations in that plan were implemented, and it was updated in 2004.

The 2004 GVPRD Parks Master Plan identified a large deficiency of parkland in Greater Vernon, based on the current standard of 4 hectares (10 acres) per thousand residents.  In 2015, the City of Vernon drew up its own Parks Master Plan which claims a parkland-to-population ratio of 5.3 ha / 1,000 residents. This is false and misleading. Many of the so-called “parks” counted in the city’s parkland tally are simply remnants of development owned by the city, and do not qualify as parkland. In actual fact, many parts of the city are parks deficient. This is especially true in East Hill.

In East Hill, with an approximate population of 8,000, there are 3ha of park, with an actual ratio of .38ha/1,000 residents.  10% of the standard as articulated in the Parks Master Plan.  Without question, East Hill is severely park deficient.

Pottery Ravine Park - 0.19 ha/.47 acres

Parks in East Hill

Here is a link to the Vernon Parks page, where you can search for the city's parks based on activity (e.g. basketball).

East Hill presently has 7 parks, the largest of which is Lakeview Park.  Total Park Area = 3.01 ha/7.43 acres. Amazingly, there is not one tennis or pickle-ball court in East Hill. Pickle-ball players must go to Marshall Fields where nearly all the pickle-ball courts in Vernon are located. This underscores the city’s tournament mentality, where park facilities are designed to attract tournaments, rather than improve quality-of-life for residents.

  • Lakeview Park (2.04 ha/5.04 acres) - 3001 18th St. Features: Baseball, Playground, Swimming, Washrooms, Water Park
  • Hudac Tot Lot (0.09 ha/0.22 acres) - 3009 11th St. Features: Basketball, Playground
  • 11th Street Tot Lot (0.05 ha/0.12 acres) - 3800 11th Street. Features: Playground
  • 19th Avenue Tot Lot (0.11 ha/0.27 acres) - 1904 19th Ave. Features: Playground
  • Coursier Park (0.42 ha/1.04 acres) - between 18th St and 22nd St. Features: A grassy park with benches
  • Pine Park – 0.11 ha (0.27 acres) - 1605 A 39A Ave. Features: Playground. Tiny and hidden away.
  • Pottery Ravine Park (0.19 ha/.47 acres) - 1604 18th Ave. Features: Basketball, Playground.  note: Pottery Ravine Park is technically 1.24 ha (3.06 acres), but the majority is an undeveloped ravine with no trail, so only the “tot lot / basketball half-court” portion counts as developed parkland (0.19 ha). Also, The 2nd ravine to the south of 16th Ave. has much better trail potential, and though privately owned is occasionally used by locals.
  • Here is a link to a brief video of all the parks in East Hill.
  • Here is an inventory of all Vernon current and planned parks.

Parks Master Plan ≠ East Hill Park

On a new East Hill park, the City of Vernon has no plan at this time, and there is no Master Plan to ensure a well-designed, expansive park.

Hudac Tot Lot - 0.09 ha/0.22 acres

Friends of East Hill Parks would like this situation to change. We are advocating developing a new multi-use park at Pottery Road and 15th St.