Work on a parks plan for the rural areas around Revelstoke is set to begin in earnest after a consultant was chosen to guide the process.

HB Lanarc Consultants was picked to lead the process out of ten firms that submitted bids. The firm will be working with the City of Revelstoke, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD), and local stakeholder groups on creating a Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the region.

Loni Parker, the director for CSRD Area B, which stretches from the Mica Dam in the north to Trout Lake in the south, said there will be two focuses of the plan – the area around Revelstoke and the area further south around the communities of Beaton, Galena Bay and Trout Lake.

“This is an Area B parks plan, it’s not just for those concentrations of population that are close to the largest centre,” she said.

The plan will look at expanding the trail network, creating greater lake access, and establishing recreation sites in the region.

“We have a very small population, so when you take a look at what kinds of things that are put into a parks plan that you can implement, we’re not looking at any grand facilities,” said Parker.

The parks plan will not cover the City of Revelstoke, nor will it interfere with existing trails and parks run by the province, such as forestry trails and provincial parks.

“We’re not interested in taking over anyone’s jurisdiction,” said Parker.

Councillor Tony Scarcella, who sits on the city’s parks and recreation committee and will be involved in the planning process is looking for a long-term plan that will set out a vision for the next 20 years.

“My long-range vision is we need something like this because the town is getting bigger,” he said. “You need to have recreation. It makes people healthier and gives them a reason to stay in Revelstoke.”

Community consultation will be a part of the process. A meeting with local stakeholders – the Rod and Gun Club, the Nordic Club, and Trail Alliance, among others – is scheduled for Dec. 3.

“This is going to have a lot of community involvement. Without their input we can’t go anywhere,” said Scarcella.

The parks plan for Area B is the last to be completed in the CSRD. Plans have already been established for the five other areas making up the regional district.