A camp that created smiles and memories for thousands of children may be gone, but the land will continue to see that legacy live on.
Hurlburt Park was officially opened on Okanagan Lake on Friday, Aug. 2, since remaining inactive following the last Camp Hurlburt summer camps in 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Hurlburt purchased the 2.5 acre lakeside lot in 1931, before the Camp Hurlburt Association was incorporated in 1935.
鈥淭housands of Vernon children, including my own, attended the camp,鈥� said Vernon Coun. Kari Gares, who led the the ribbon cutting at the park.
Trinity United Church owned the land and operated the camp, but made the tough decision to sell the property to the Regional District of North Okanagan (which was then transferred to Vernon) in 2012.
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鈥淭here was a plan originally to redevelop the camp, but it was too high a mark and we couldn鈥檛 reach it,鈥� said Jeff Seaton, who was minister at the time of the sale.
The congregation wanted to honour the legacy of Camp Hurlburt and therefore came to the decision to sell the land so it could continue to be enjoyed by the public.
鈥淎ll those generations of people who camped here can come back and enjoy it,鈥� said Seaton.
Gares adds: 鈥淭he camp creed was based on respect, honouring each other鈥檚 diversity and encouraging and awareness through interaction and reflection of our natural surroundings, and, well, you can鈥檛 get any more natural than this. It鈥檚 beautiful. This tradition was influential in the church鈥檚 decision to sell the land for public park.鈥�
Patricia Hesketh鈥檚 late husband Bill was very involved in Camp Hurlburt as a director.
鈥淲e led a lot of camps here,鈥� said Patricia, who made sure to be on hand for the celebration. 鈥淗e worked for the John Howard Society and when the first house burnt down the church invited all the ex cons to live here (at Camp Hurlburt). And they built the chapel.鈥�
The decision to keep the land public is one Patricia is pleased with, and she is sure Bill would be too.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled, it just couldn鈥檛 be a better outcome for everybody. It鈥檚 a win win.
鈥淭he old buildings were falling down anyway.鈥�
The land now boasts picnic tables, a dock and 1,500 linear feet of lakefront. It is also the site of sensitive Kokanee spawning habitat.
鈥淚t belongs to the whole community, today and into the future,鈥� said Gares.
Trinity鈥檚 current minister Robin Jacobson is also pleased with the new park, and to see the tradition of inclusivity of the camp continue at the site.
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jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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