Sooke Lions Club Proposal for John Phillips Memorial Park Pending

The Sooke Lions Club put the brakes on plans to add a community center and public facilities to John Phillips Memorial Park.

“Right now, I don’t think the council has full support for our plan, so we’ve decided to pause and think about what’s best for our community and club,” said Lyons. Danny Willis, project chair, said in a letter to the Sooke District.

“After we had our town hall meeting[in September]we could see that the community was divided,” Willis said. “They want new facilities to host their events, but not at the expense of abandoning the park.”

The community needs more community facilities because of the souk’s exponential growth, Willis said.

Years before Sooke was incorporated, the Sooke Lions Club purchased land on Murray Road to develop the park.

“The land is underutilized due to vandalism problems and other park developments,” Willis said.

Sooke Lions have been negotiating with the Sooke District for over a decade to exchange Murray Road for another venue that serves the community.

The latest vision was to sell the district’s Murray Road at a low cost and develop a facility in the John Phillips Memorial Park.

“Initially, it seemed like we had the full support of the city council for this initiative,” Willis said.

Members of the Sooke Lions Club will discuss the future disposition of the Murray Road property.

“We got an offer to buy the land,” said Willis. “Districts are invited to make an offer separate from previous negotiations.”

Another option is for the Lions Club to decide to keep the land and build a smaller hall.

The Lions Club originally approached Sooke City Council about the possibility of leasing part of John Phillips Memorial Park for the project in July 2021. Still, the number of voters who voted against him was 9.3%, below his 10% required to hold a referendum.

The council then directed staff to assist Lions at town hall meetings. An investigation was also conducted and a consultant was hired to edit the Lions Club’s comments to consider a decision whether to proceed.

According to a recent staff report, the Souk administration would like to invite Lions clubs to continue an open discussion about possible future community facilities.

Willis thanked Sooke District Communications Coordinator Christina Moog and Corporate Services Assistant Jennifer Royer Collard for their support and efforts throughout the process.

William Wallace, a vocal opponent of the project, said the many people who worked to save the park appreciate the Lions Club’s decision to pause and reflect. .

“Additional green assets, including the creation of adequate access pathways from the town center entering the park from Otterpoint Road and Wadhams Way, are expected to make the park a significant green space asset in the town center. said Wallace. “The current steep gravel road is inappropriate and does not encourage pedestrians in the town center to enter the park.”

He also called for a significant planting program to restore the urban canopy that had been removed.

---

news@sookenewsmirror.com
Like and follow us on Facebook twitter

Lions ClubSookSook CouncilWest Shore