Kamloops city staff say protecting Riverside Park from potential flooding is a top priority.

Utility services manager Greg Wightman says the park is a great amenity for the city, but that’s not why it’s most important to protect it.

“We have one of our most important sewer lift stations within that park, we have a sewer system that runs through that park, to service the concession stands and washrooms. When we’re protecting Riverside Park we are protecting critical infrastructure, we are not protecting the park and the amenity it is for the city,” Wightman says.

“That is a real key message to get out there, is we need to protect that critical infrastructure. And in doing so we protect our park as well. But our goal there is to protect infrastructure.”

Wightman says the city will set up a wall of Hesko baskets filled with sand, if needed, to protect the shoreline.

And he says the city will also close the pier and remove the railings if the river rises to a certain point, saying that prevents debris from possibly ripping those railings out.

(Photo: City of Kamloops)