This summer is going to see the establishment of on-and-off-water business flowing out of Riverside Park.

Kamloops City Council has green-lit a plan to allow Tourism Kamloops to be the manager of any rental or food and beverage businesses which want to set up out of the Park for the next two-years instead of the initial one year as proposed by city staff.

This amends a long-standing rule about Kamloops’ parks being off-limits to commercial use, except for large, permitted events.

“I look at other cities and other communities, and the commercial aspects in their parks are there already,” argued Councillor Kelly Hall in supporting the move at Kamloops City Council on Tuesday.

“I would hope, and I would encourage us – as a city – to get a little more progressive with the opportunities for commercial applications in our parks.”

Noting there are a number of new additions being added to Riverside Park, including the new spray park and – potentially – an outdoor skating rink this winter, Councillor Mike O’Reilly also voiced support for the idea.

“We’ve got the better-part of a $10-million investment, compared to when that [Riverside Park] concession was open, and turning it into a 12-month a year place where people want to gather,” suggested O’Reilly. “That’s what business is looking for.”

This concept was first trialed in 2021 – as the City of Kamloops prepared to eliminate the existing concession stand – allowing expanded food and beverage services as well as rentals of kayak, water bikes, and lawn games.

However, wildfire smoke and the pandemic that year made the pilot project both undesirable and unprofitable.

“The program did really inject a lot of life and energy into Riverside Park,” Sean Smith, the City’s Events Supervisor said Tuesday. “I remember being quite impressed that just the liveliness of the area right around that old building.”

“It’s proven that already, and the service provided by Tourism Kamloops will provide additional activities and services for families to enhance the visitor’s experience to Riverside Park.”

While it is not clear when the equipment rental vendors will begin operations, there will be a review of the exemption to the Parks and Public Lands Bylaw after one year.

“This is actually quite a major policy shift, because in the past, the policy was no commercialization in the park,” Councillor Nancy Bepple said, noting there are people in Kamloops who are opposed to commercialization of Riverside Park.

“We’re balancing off the contractors but we also have to think about what the community wants are.”