Popular parks get boost from regional district moves
By Timothy Schafer
Some of the region’s most popular parks received a geographical boost and a legislative nod from the regional district.
Taghum Beach Regional Park was officially more than doubled in size, while Sunshine Bay Regional Park in the Procter-Harrop community received a vital piece of infrastructure.
The park boundaries for 5.4-hectare Taghum Beach Regional Park and Sunshine Bay Regional Park are to be expanded in this latest move by the regional district, while the Kaslo Waterfront Trail and Beach will be removed, the Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors voted recently.
In addition, Crescent Valley Regional Park (acquired in 2011) in the bottom of the Slocan Valley, McDonalds Landing Regional Park (acquired in 2011) and Morning Mountain Regional Park (designated in 2016) in Blewett were formalized into the RDCK system of parks. All parks had been in existence and in formation for some time but were never incorporated into the Official Regional Parks Plan and Park Regulation Bylaw for the RDCK.
The addition of Procter Wharf to Sunshine Bay Regional Park made official the acquisition of the land by the RDCK in 2012. Prior to this it was not officially in the park. The 3.4 hectares of land to adjacent Taghum Beach Regional Park — which was acquired by the RDCK in 2013 — did not have regional park status.
The incorporation of the three parks into the plan means the RDCK staff will now have the ability to impose and enforce rules and regulations in all RDCK parks.
The beach and trail in Kaslo were removed from the plan since the Village of Kaslo has sole responsibility for the park.
Taghum Beach is located approximately six kilometres west of the city and comprises around 5.4 hectares of land, now including the 3.4 hectares acquired in 2012. The site includes two hectares of leased land and 3.4 ha. Of land owned by the regional district.
It is designated as a waterfront access park providing recreation facilities that include picnic tables, washrooms and a beach.
Sunshine Bay is located on the north shore of the West Arm of Kootenay lake and has a total area of approximately 22 ha. The park is comprised of five lots and is managed by the Sunshine Bay Regional Park Commission.
The eastern sector of the park includes ball fields, picnic facilities and a recently developed BMX bike park. Part of the western sector of the park includes an equestrian facility leased to the Sunshine Bay Riding Club.
Morning Mountain Regional Park has multi-use trails for biking, hiking and winter recreation and is part of the Trans Canada Trail network. This winter it is expected to have an outdoor rink.
Fuel treatment projects heat up in the backcountry
Operational fuel treatment projects are expected to begin in the region, including the Burlington area just bordering the southern edge of Nelson, and the forest to the east of the city near Harrop and west near Bonnington.
Loki Tree Service won the bid for Nelson’s Burlington at $245,050, and will also be taking care of the Harrop and Bonnington projects in the same bid.
In all fuel treatment projects are slated for Fauquier, Burton, Harrop, Bonnington, Burlington, Argenta, lardeau, Lister, Biswell, Kingsgate and Riondel.
The regional district board of directors awarded seven contracts to proponents throughout the region for the operational fuel treatment projects to reduce risk of wildfire. Funding for the projects had already been approved by the board and supporting grant applications were also approved.
Debri Resources will tackle Fauquier and Burton ($121,425), while West Arm Silviculture will be in Argenta and Lardeau ($149,600). Fall Line Forestry will be treating Boswell ($82,229).
Spectrum Resources is in Lister ($137,102), Apex Forest Services won the bid for Kingsgate ($100,204.90) and Wildfire Services is conducting the project in Riondel ($251,600).
