Concerns are growing about the future of the live-in guardian position Mount Knox Park in Kelowna, BC
The city is reviewing the position as longtime custodian Mark Goddard prepares to retire later this year.
Among the considerations is no longer having a ranger living on the mountain, which is troubling news for many people who use the park or live near it.
“I think it’s very important that somebody is up here, ultimately important,” said Nancy Spencer, who walks the park almost every day.
The on-site care position was created more than 20 years ago.
The city-owned cabin at the summit has been the park ranger’s home for more than two decades, when the site ranger position was first established.
The ranger helps oversee the popular park and monitor it around the clock.
Spencer believes having someone living in the park provides an important layer of surveillance, especially when it comes to responding quickly to fires or suspicious activity.
Residents who live near the 385-acre park share those concerns, citing things like safety and fire watch as reasons to keep a ranger on site.
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“People are out there on motorcycles, homeless populations, encampments, things like that,” said Dan Brown, president of the Clifton Magical Neighborhood Association.
“So the community at large, in general, is concerned that without having someone present, those things are going to kind of go unchecked.”
The City of Kelowna says it is not eliminating park supervision, but instead is reviewing how those services should be provided in the future.
“We are not reducing services to Knox Mountain Park,” said Thomas Martin, urban forester with the city of Kelowna. “We are actively trying to increase services.”
Martin said the review is focused on determining whether a live-in guardian remains the most effective model.
“We have to look at that. Is it a position that’s needed to be in the park full-time, or is it a position that’s offsite? So that’s something that’s under consideration,” Martin said.
According to the city, Knox Mountain Park has expanded significantly over the years, both in size and the number of visitors it receives. Officials say the park has outgrown the care model established more than two decades ago.
“What historically might have been the ability of one person to take care of a small network of trails in a smaller park is now a fairly large network of trails across a larger park,” Martin said.
Despite the city’s review, some park users argue that no alternative can replace the safety and security provided by an on-site presence.
“People really enjoy using that park and so I think it’s just a big shock, a big change to think that the park manager isn’t going to be there,” Brown said.
The current caretaker is expected to remain in the role until the end of October while the city continues its review.
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