One of the city's most popular new green spaces is now officially a winner.
The BC Recreation and Parks Association presented the City of Prince George with a provincial park and open space award for the redeveloped Duchess Park.
"Prince George's Duchess Park is a welcoming park that offers recreation opportunities to people of all ages and mobility levels in an environment that honours the past and fosters a sense of community," said BC Recreation and Parks Association CEO Suzanne Allard Strutt said in a news release. "The park illustrates excellence in many ways, but especially in its positive impact and immediate acceptance within a small community."
The park includes an accessible playground with equipment aimed at various age groups, a mini-bike park with ramps and other terrain features intended for novice and more experienced bike riders and a fenced off-leash dog park.
The city acquired the property for the park in 2009 through a partnership with the school district and the province. In exchange for getting the school land to build the playground and other amenities, the city provided land on Alward Street to the Canadian Cancer Society which led to the construction of Kordyban Lodge.
"What makes Duchess Park truly special is that it is a park of 'multiples' where multiple governments and community groups worked together to create a park with activities for multiple populations," City of Prince George park planner Laurie-Anne Kosec wrote in an email to the Citizen.
The Duchess Park site has been a key recreation area in the city since its founding 100 years ago. The original town plan included Duchess Park as a focal point of the Crescents neighbourhood.
Duchess Park was one of two winners of BC Recreation and Parks Association awards this year. The other winner was Westminster Pier Park in New Westminster.
