What is PARC?
Overview
Salt Spring Island is an unincorporated rural Electoral District under the jurisdiction of the Capital Regional District (CRD). The CRD is responsible for many of the Southern Gulf Islands and a large area of the southern portion of Vancouver Island. The CRD provides many of the local government functions and services normally found in a Municipality or Town, but most of the administrative functions are handled from offices in Victoria.
The Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) is a local arm of the CRD and is responsible to the CRD Board.
Activities
By contrast with most other CRD services on Salt Spring, the activities of PARC are led by an eight member, locally appointed commission. The local CRD Director (an elected official) also sits on the Commission. The commission functions in the same way as a municipal Parks and Recreation Commission or Parks Board. PARC members are appointed for three year terms by the CRD Board, upon recommendation of the local Regional Director.
PARC is responsible for the establishment, ongoing operation and maintenance of all of the following:
- Community parks and park athletic fields on Salt Spring
- Public trails and linear parks
- Waterfront parks and recreation areas at various locations
- Park reserves
- Provision of tennis courts in public parks
- Market in the Park at Centennial Park
- Camp Colossal children's day camp program
- Operation of Rainbow Road Indoor Pool
- Park Legacy Program
- Support for community groups
- Planning for future needs and development of community recreation facility.
The Administration
PARC staff are hired by the CRD to oversee the day-to-day operations of PARC. Staff administer policies which have been created by the Commission.
Bylaws
The Community Parks Regulations (Salt Spring Island), Bylaw 2930 (PDF 
), was adopted December 12, 2001.
© Image courtesy of Mary Sanseverino
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