Options to decide future of Desert Park future unveiled at Open House

After weeks of waiting, the townhall meeting on the future of Desert Park was finally held last week.
Urban Systems, the consulting firm hired by the Town of Osoyoos to study and conceptualize Desert Park met with Osoyoos residents last Thursday at the town hall from 3-8 p.m.
The public had a chance to view the three concepts and voice their opinions on the option they most favoured.
Earlier that day, Urban Systems met with local group Friends of Desert Park to outline the three concepts and answer any questions.
Once the municipality has the public's input as to which of the three concepts, or combinations and permutations thereof they would like to see, the next step is to go out to the private sector to determine who can operate the facility, said Ed Grifone, a senior consultant with Urban Systems.
The other option is for the town to divest themselves of this, let the Crown come in and sell the land for private development.
The municipality understands now that they are not the ones to run it. It's getting too big.rnFriends of Desert Park want to see the park remain the 52-acre public park it has always been and become a year-round multi-use recreation facility for the general public to enjoy.
Grifone assured everyone at the morning meeting that components from each design plan could be shuffled or modified, and that the plans are not absolute.
Concept A is designated as Equestrian.
The facility would be composed of an indoor arena, an outdoor arena, barns, a fenced area for gymkhana/barrel races, stadium horse jumping and parking.
Complementary uses could include car shows, a circus or concerts on the track infield.
The indoor arena/multiplex may be rented for events or government-approved gaming facilities.
Changes to the existing park include the addition of the multiplex/indoor riding arena, area for two more outdoor training arenas, new parking to accommodate major events, fencing installed on the lower portion of the site to create gymkhana grounds, phasing out of the existing recreation building/grandstand, relocation of the Portuguese Club House, and phasing out and relocation of the infield sports facilities to make space for horse jumping, etc.
This undertaking assumes a private operator would be required to develop and operate the centre on a year-round basis and as a revenue generating investment.
If it is a Society the Town of Osoyoos should be confident that the entity is capable also of development, operations and marketing for the centre's long term sustainability.
Concept B is designated as Modified Equestrian.
This concept permits a more local/regional scale of an equestrian facility to be retained but in association with community sports fields.
This supports largely a boarding and training facility. The existing equestrian buildings are shifted to the south end of the site to make room for an RV Park.
Complementary uses include two slow pitch and two soccer fields on the track infield, seasonal exhibitions and shows on the infield, and events in the indoor arena.
Changes to the existing park include relocation of all equestrian facilities at the north end to the south end, a new multiplex/indoor arena and at least one outdoor arena, reconfiguration of the race track into a training facility, new parking, removal of the recreation building/grandstand and an RV Park created across the road from the golf course.
There could be one overall operator such as the town or a recreation commission, or a combination of town/commission and a private operator for the year-round or seasonal RV Park.
Concept C is designated as Recreation Centre.
This plan calls for removing the equine element and making Desert Park an outdoor/indoor recreation facility with an RV Park component for associated seniors visitor use, golfers and sports tournaments.
The major sports field complex would allow for four ball diamonds, a soccer field, a 400 metre running track, a new fieldhouse, a practice area and new grandstands and parking areas.
This concept also includes an extensive seniors activity area complete with community gardens, lawn bowling/croquet, tennis court, playgrounds, a club house for indoor activity/gatherings and an RV Park. Complementary uses include the accommodation of seasonal outdoor exhibitions and concerts, an antelope brush interpretive area associated with a seniors community gardens/major landscape unit and shifting the Portuguese Club House to the south end.
Changes to the existing park would be the removal of the equestrian race track, the removal of the recreation building and grandstand to make way for new parking, a running track and a new grandstand, ball diamonds and soccer pitches surrounding the core running track, a seniors activity area with club/community group participation, interpretive signage introduced into the antelope brush natural area and walking trails introduced within the entire Desert Park site, and an RV Park (and associated structures) created across from the golf course.
Since the recreational component entails a community asset, much of the site would be operated by the town/recreation commission.
The seniors activity area would likely be club/community group developed and operated/maintained with some municipal contribution.
The RV Park could be privately developed and operated, or form part of the overall recreational complex to be operated by the town or associated agency.
We want to get a mix of uses that will satisfy everybody, said Grifone.