The city is using $69,000 of the profits from its community forest timber sales for five recreation-related projects.
Some of the projects were planned for last year but were not carried out and now will cost more because of increased costs or additions to original plans, recreation, parks and culture director Tara Irwin told council when it met May 8.
1. A project planned for last year that did not go ahead was to replace bridge decking on Ferry Island. But now the entire structure will be replaced and $7,500 has been added to the budget.
2. Better parking to go along with a new Ferry Island sign is in the works. Along with parking improvements will come a design for a revised layout for a future capital project. The sum of $7,500 has been set aside.
3. A newly-installed fence has cut down on the litter and clutter accumulating from the Walmart property on the trail that runs below it and beside the Skeena River. Along with the fence, trail work was begun in 2022 to connect Rotary-Kerr Park to Haugland Ave. With another $13,000 the plan is to fix up the trail running east of Haugland along the trail below Walmart and ending up at the Dudley Little Bridge on Hwy 16. A turnaround point and a sitting area would be built there.
4. An additional $10,000 is being spent to improve the parking area at the Kerr-Rotary Park and to relocate the batting cage from Elks Park to Rotary Park.
5. Inappropriate behaviour in and around the softball field adjacent to Tetrault St. and Haugland and misuse of the area since the move of the homeless shelter to Tetrault had the Terrace Minor Softball Association approach city council for help. Using $30,000, the city will fence in the dugouts to prevent overnight camping, repair and update bleachers with cedar planking and improve the parking area.
Irwin said reports have been coming in about “increased uses of the park that are not compatible with children and families also using the park in the evenings and after school.”
She said it was best the city now address the situation before the softball field area becomes a place where people don’t feel safe.
Fencing in the dugouts will help, Irwin added.