Postponed Parks & environment

Community Park needs assessment

A $50,000 study of needs at Community Park, the Town's main sports park. On July 23, 2025, Council moved it from 2026 to 2027.

Amount
$50,000
Got
$0
Where it stands
To 2027. Moved by the Eaglecrest funding plan, Jul 2025.

What it is

Community Park is the Town's main sports and recreation park. It has playgrounds, a skatepark, a BMX track, off-leash dog parks and sports fields.

The Community Park Needs Assessment is a $50,000 study. It was planned for 2026. On July 23, 2025, Council moved it to 2027 as part of the Eaglecrest funding plan. The resolution says each deferred item waits one year, or until the Strategic Initiatives Reserve is paid back from future land sales.

The Town has not published a scope for the study. The 2026–2030 Financial Plan lists two Community Park studies for 2027, each $50,000. One is a Community Facilities Site Plan Update. The other is a Space Needs Assessment for separating and storing equipment. The records do not say which one is the item moved on July 23.

What happened

  1. December 2006The Town's last full plan for the park area recommended a field house with change rooms, washrooms and meeting rooms.
  2. December 11, 2024Council changed the funding for a separate 2026 Community Park site review to another Town fund (the Capacity Funding Allocation).
  3. July 23, 2025Council moved the $50,000 needs assessment from 2026 to 2027 (4–1, Councillor Harrison opposed).
  4. December 17, 2025Council unanimously kept a $620,000 new facility for Community Park users in 2028. It depends on getting a grant.
  5. April 1, 2026The 2026–2030 Financial Plan shows two $50,000 Community Park studies in 2027.

Why it matters

  • The 2025–2029 Financial Plan had two Community Park items in 2026, each $50,000: this needs assessment and a site review. Only the needs assessment is on the July 23, 2025 list.
  • A new washroom and drinking fountain at the skatepark were approved in June 2026. The Town expects to install them by the end of 2026.
  • Staff said the Qualicum Commons lease and the Eaglecrest purchase were not in their work plans for 2025 or 2026, so other planned work had to move.
  • The 2026–2030 Financial Plan says Council's ability to go ahead with 2027 and later initiatives depends on paying back the Strategic Initiatives Reserve.

Sources

Last checked September 18, 2026. Report a mistake.