The development of the city’s first parks, recreation and cultural master plan is in its infant stages as contractor Lees and Associates collects feedback from the public and city council.

Lees and Associates president Erik Lees made a presentation to council at a committee of the whole meeting last Wednesday, (Oct.28), showing them Merritt has a fair amount of sport and recreational facilities compared to similar sized communities in B.C.

“However, there are a number of places where the system could be improved and that’s the exciting part of a plan like this,” Lees told reporters outside the meeting at the civic centre.

Lees also asked what the councillors would like to see this plan address.

Coun. Dave Baker said he’d like to see the plan address accessibility for seniors, and coun. Mike Goetz said it should also address trends in sport participation and preference.

“At one time rugby was the thing here. Rugby [was] everywhere, and now it’s deader than a doornail,” Goetz said.

Earlier in his presentation, Lees said that there is a healthy compliment of parks within a 10 minute walk in the north end of town, but a lack of parks in the south-east portion of Merritt.

Coun. Diana Norgaard said she’d like to see a more even distribution of park space.

Coun. Kurt Christopherson said he’d like to see a long-term plan to develop trails along the city’s rivers and preservation riparian areas.

Mayor Neil Menard said the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena could use improvement, noting it is old and the ice surface is not regulation size.

Coun. Ginny Prowal said she’d like to see more trail development in Collettville and Diamond Vale.

On Thursday it was the public’s turn to give the company feedback on the parks plan at an open house.

Lees said he heard members of the public call for increases and improvements to playing fields and more walking and biking trails.

The information-gathering process is continuing as Lees and Associates is currently conducting a phone survey, as well as offering one online at merritt.ca.

Lees said the company will analyze the information it has gathered from the community and combine it with their own personal judgement to develop pragmatic and affordable recommendations that council can implement over the next few years.

There will be another open house sometime in February or March where Lees and Associates will present their recommendations.

A finished plan is expected to be presented to council sometime in the spring of 2016, and will highlight potential project ideas, cost estimates and priorities.

“It is not a commitment to spend,” Lees said.

City council awarded the contract to develop the parks plan to Erik Lees and Associates for $54,908 before taxes. The 2015 budget set aside $55,000 for this guiding document.