The Sooke Lions Club will host a town hall meeting in September to convince the public that a plan to add public amenities at John Phillips Memorial Park is a good idea.
The LionsB次元官网网址� plan focuses on a half-acre area in the seven-hectare park.
The plan includes a community centre, daycare, clubhouse, offices, outdoor stage and concession. The Lions would lease the land from the District of Sooke.
Council agreed Monday to help the Sooke Lions Club hire a consultant and assist in hosting the town hall. Councillors also directed staff to develop a master plan for the park as part of the 2023 budget deliberations.
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John Phillips Memorial Park is the second-largest park in the district, second only to the Sooke River Nature Trail.
B次元官网网址淭he proximity of the large green space just outside the town centre in a rapidly growing community is important as large tracts of land within the area decrease in availability,B次元官网网址� states a staff report.
In 2006, the John Phillips Memorial Park Trust Committee was formed with a mandate to consult the public and develop a park plan. The process resulted in a concept plan for the park, which included plans for a community amenity building, dog park and green space.
Over the years, those plans were abandoned until last summer when the Lions stepped forward with a new project.
Last fall, voters in the district had the opportunity to participate in an alternative approval process (AAP), a method of voting that enables electors to express their opposition to a council proposal. Fewer than 10 per cent of voters registered opposition.
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Although council members unanimously approved the town hall meeting on June 13, some questioned whether a master plan should precede any park development.
Councillors Tony St-Pierre and Jeff Bateman called it putting the B次元官网网址渃art before the horse.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 think the process here is backwards,B次元官网网址� St-Pierre said but added the community does need more public amenities.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e fortunate that the Lions are potentially willing to put forward a project and make it happen. If thatB次元官网网址檚 the way we end up going.B次元官网网址�
Don Schaffer, interim chief administrative officer, pointed out that regardless of the outcome of the Sooke Lions Club project, a master plan is required for John Phillips park.
Mayor Maja Tait said there is still a lot to focus on in the park with a master plan, including vegetation, wildlife, the eco-system B次元官网网址� even what kind of events should be held there.
B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of outstanding questions,B次元官网网址� she said.
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editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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