Tourism Kamloops is asking the City to amend its bylaws so it can offer equipment rentals as well as food and beverages options in other municipal parks.

Manager of Destination Development Nic Zdunich says the idea to try and expand the Riverside Park concession stand to places like McArthur Island and Juniper Park.

“We deemed the pilot successful and now we want to enhance it, and so there are a couple of bylaws that I would like everyone to take a peek at,” Zdunich said, at the June 27 Governance and Service Excellence Committee meeting. “One is specifically in bylaw number 55 where it talks about accessories to the park.”

“We’d love to be able to put in tourism related products in here so we can start moving this forward.”

Tourism Kamloops partnered with two businesses – Kamloops Water Sports and Sea Legs Water Bikes – when it first operated The Concession in 2021, though the venture had limited success due to wildfire smoke and the pandemic.

It was revived last year after Kamloops Councillors granted a two-year exemption to the Parks and Public Lands Bylaw so businesses like food trucks and equipment rental vendors could operate inside Riverside Park during the summer months.

“Despite the challenges that we did have, even last year with the travel ban, they found it successful,” Lisa Strachan, Tourism Kamloops’ Director of Destination Development and Trade Relations said.

“The first year, it lost a bit of money but they were happy to be part of it. Last year, I believe, they broke even. So our hope is that this year, assuming we have a full year of operating, they will start to see some some money, maybe some profitability.”

Strachan told the committee that kayak rentals made up 48.1 per cent of the total rentals last year while stand-up paddleboard rentals accounted for another 16.2 per cent. Other concessionary items – like water, pop, and chips – made up 35.7 per cent, she said.

“Grateful to have that concessionary opportunity because that does help that revenue stream and brings people by and it increases the awareness when you’re there for a freezie, and you say ‘hey, maybe I’ll rent a stand-up paddleboard,” Strachan said, adding the new spray park and playground has helped draw more attention to the concession stand

Strachan also noted that 61 per cent of users last year were tourists, with the other 39 per cent being Kamloops residents. Of the local residents, she said 26 per cent were TRU students.

“This mix underscores the project’s broad appeal and its effectiveness in attracting both visitors and locals to our community, and supports the objectives of boosting tourism and enhancing opportunities,” Strachan said.

She also told the committee that while Sea Legs Water Bikes did not return last year, a business that rents mountain bikes and e-bikes is expected to operate alongside Kamloops Water Sports at the Riverside Park stand this summer.

“They’re interested in seeing it to fruition, and we’re just waiting on a business licence for them,” she said of the new business. “Their insurance and all other things they have acquired.”

Kamloops City staff will review existing bylaws and bring forward recommendations to a future Governance and Service Excellence Committee meeting, following a motion by Councillor Katie Neustaeter.

It is not clear when staff will be done their review, but any change to city bylaws will have to be approved by Council as a whole.

Zdunich – and Tourism Kamloops CEO Erik Fisher – both suggested that the City put in a formal process so interested businesses looking to increase their tourism-related offerings in city parks can reach out “once [Kamloops fixes] some of those bylaw pieces.”

“We’ve happily been the middleman but I notice that in other cities like Kelowna or Saskatoon to which I look for inspiration on these types of projects it is the city that sort of runs it,” Zdunich said.

“We believe that Kamloops is in fact falling behind other cities of our size when it comes to what many tourists and residents alike would consider sought-after services and options for things to do,” Fisher added.