Riverside Park Improvements
Riverside Park is one of the City's most well loved and busiest green spaces. Over the next few years, residents and visitors will notice improvements in different areas of the park to make it safer, more accessible, and potentially offer more year-round activities.
The City needs to replace the aging water park, which it has budgeted for as part of the its Asset Management Program. The City has also been pursuing a community and recreation focused grant that would transform the aging spray park into a new water park and winter-time ice surface to provide recreational enjoyment year-round. Additionally, floodContinue reading
Riverside Park is one of the City's most well loved and busiest green spaces. Over the next few years, residents and visitors will notice improvements in different areas of the park to make it safer, more accessible, and potentially offer more year-round activities.
The City needs to replace the aging water park, which it has budgeted for as part of the its Asset Management Program. The City has also been pursuing a community and recreation focused grant that would transform the aging spray park into a new water park and winter-time ice surface to provide recreational enjoyment year-round. Additionally, flood protection and erosion protection work is planned along the riverbank that would also incorporate improvements to pathways in the area.
Project Features
The multi-purpose ice surface/spray park project would be constructed in the same place as the current water park, which would be replaced entirely with the following:
- new spray park including features and equipment that could be swapped out in the winter for an outdoor ice surface
- benches and a potential warming area
- renovated accessible washroom facilities in a building that would also include an ice plant and storage for an ice resurfacing machine and other equipment.
- signage recognizing cultural and historical significance of the area
The City, in consultation with community stakeholders and citizens, is also considering implementing sustainable project components including:
- cold water resurfacing technology
- heat recovery system from the ice plant to be used for things like snow removal on pathways and space heating
- an electric ice-resurfacing vehicle (Zamboni)
- LED lighting for the rink and washrooms
- future electrical infrastructure to accommodate low-carbon electrification opportunities such as EV chargers and e-mobility chargers
Community, Culture and Recreation Grant
The City is seeking a grant through BC’s Community, Culture and Recreation Program to cover approximately three quarters of the estimated cost for construction of this new infrastructure and lighting and pathway improvements. The results of the grant application should be received in 2021 and, if successful, construction would start 2022. The City had applied to the same grant program in 2018 for a similar project in the park, but was unsuccessful. This new grant intake has provided an opportunity for staff to refine the project concept and resubmit an application. The project team is also working closely with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc to protect archaeological and cultural resources.
Riverside Park was chosen as the location for the project based on the need to replace aging spray park infrastructure over the next one to five years. This opportunity, combined with community support and evidence from the City's Recreation Master Plan, which indicates ice surface utilization at 100% during prime ice time, makes this multi-season infrastructure a desirable destination for residents and visitors in winter and summer.
If the City is unsuccessful in receiving grant funding, the spray park infrastructure update will still move ahead as part of the City's five year capital plan. However, the outdoor rink component would not be part of the project.
Do you have a question about this project? Take the opportunity to ask it below.
Do you have a question about this project? Add it here, and the City will follow up within 48 hours.
Q and A
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As we deal with covid I am wondering why outdoor rink would be dismissed when we need more outdoor activity for both children & adults. It should remain in the budget.
pat kaatz asked 3 days agoThank you for your question. The Riverside Park Improvements Project has not been dismissed. The City is currently awaiting the outcome of a grant application through BC’s Community, Culture and Recreation Program, which would cover about three quarters of the project costs. Results of the grant adjudication should be known by spring of 2021. If successful, designs would start later in 2021 and construction would start in 2022. If the City is unsuccessful in receiving grant funding, the spray park infrastructure update will still move ahead as part of the City's five year capital plan, but without the ice rink infrastructure. If you have further questions, please reach out to our Civic Operations Department at civicoperations@kamloops.ca.
This page will continue to be updated as the project proceeds. -
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What do the Riverside Park improvements involve?
hummingbird1 asked 4 months agoCity staff have proposed combining a new outdoor skating rink and water park into one facility. The existing spray park is almost 30 years old, and staff estimate it will need to be replaced within the next one to five years. The existing washroom and storage building would be repurposed to include the following:
• new washrooms and change rooms
• storage
• ice plant and operating equipment
• storage area for ice resurfacing equipment
The project would also include new LED lighting and improvements to area walkways.
Who's Listening
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Capital Projects Manager
Timeline
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Grant Application
Riverside Park Improvements is currently at this stageDeadline for Community, Culture and Recreation grant application, October 1, 2020
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Phase 1 - Design and Preconstruction
this is an upcoming stage for Riverside Park ImprovementsIf the City's grant application to the Community, Culture and Recreation Fund is successful, design and preconstruction work on transforming the existing water park into a multi-purpose spray park/outdoor ice facility would be planned for the Summer of 2021.
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Phase 2 - Construction
this is an upcoming stage for Riverside Park ImprovementsIf the grant is successful, it is expected construction of this project would be completed in 2022. If the grant is unsuccessful, the City will proceed with replacing the spray park only, which is earmarked in the City's Capital Plan.