BY LORNE ECKERSLEY
Advance staff
The RDCK has approved a short-term borrowing plan that would allow construction of a skate park at Creston & District Community Complex to start in 2018.
Public approval is not required for a 5-year loan of $1 million, which will be added to a $150,000 Columbia Basin Trust recreation infrastructure grant approved this spring, and a similar amount from a recreation reserve fund.
Planning for the construction will begin this year in anticipation of construction of Phase 1 next year, at which point the loan will be taken out.
“Developing unique and engaging facilities that will attract residents to the community,” is how CDCC manager Randy Fediuk described the economic benefits of the park in a report to the RDCK. “There would be an economic spinoff in the community with people stopping or making Creston a destination.”
The park is designed for space between 20th Avenue North and the Community Complex, and is geared specifically to utilize the sloped land that is now in grass.
With some luck, the borrowing would become unnecessary if grant applications are successful. Last week, the RDCK board of directors approved an application for the full $3.2 million amount for funding under the Strategic Priorities Fund – Capital Infrastructure intake stream which is due on June 1. Previously, Nelson and District Community Complex received $4.597 million for renovations under the same program.
The original recommendation to the RDCK was made at the May Local Services Committee meeting at CDCC. At that meeting regional directors recommended that the definition of a Golden membership of the CDCC be changed from 85 years of age to 80. Golden memberships are free.
It also recommended that the RDCK approve the paving of Creston Valley Public Library by Selkirk Paving in the amount of $261,936.
Those recommendations were also approved at the May 18th RDCK board meeting.