After Kamloops council approved using up to six parks for outdoor fitness classes, those parks are expected to be chosen by the end of next week.
Owner of Oxygen Yoga and Fitness Dina McLeod says she’s been told by city staff that May 28, at the latest, fitness companies will know the parks they’re allowed to use.
The city has 74 parks, covering 370 hectares.
“And then, again, we won’t rent them. They will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. So if I was to show up there and one of my other yoga studio owner friends in town showed up, we would just take opposite ends and we would make it work. Because we’re only allowed still nine people at a time under the current provincial health order,” McLeod says.
A provincial health order that bans indoor fitness classes is set to expire on May 25.
Whether that circuit-breaker order is restricted or not, McLeod says she will still buy a permit and hold outdoor classes.
“Absolutely. After everything that we’ve done here, and coming together as a community to help offer that, I think that it’s really important. And I would say, for myself as a hot yoga studio, you do see a decline in memberships in the summer. So what a wonderful opportunity for us to step outside and experience a new environment together as a community as well.”
She says if this pilot program proves to be a success, she will be the first to buy a permit next year.
“And I think it’s really wonderful for even passersby to just say ‘oh what’s going on today at the wellness park?’ The designated wellness park in the city. And I think that it could really open people up, and it could be great marketing for us, as businesses trying to get our feet under us after the pandemic.”
The new permit system for using space at up to six outdoor parks will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, and costs will mirror those in Kelowna. McLeod says permits there are $84 per month, plus tax, and season passes from April 1 to Oct. 31 are $442 plus tax, working out to $63 per month.
“And that’s unlimited use. At designated parks, with permits, with business licenses and with insurance,” McLeod says. “It’s super important that we do this right.”
Yesterday, Kamloops council approved the one-year pilot program by a unanimous vote.
