On April 10, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Board voted to reclassify the North Peace Regional Park (NPRP) (also called the North Peace Fall Fairgrounds) to a community park. Community parks are intended for people living nearby, while regional parks are significant for everyone in the region. The annual Fall Fair will continue as usual.
The Board also approved the development of a new one-year agreement with the North Peace Fall Fair Society to continue operating the treasured community space.
“We made this change based on what the community told us they wanted,” said Board Chair, Leonard Hiebert. “The North Peace Fall Fair Society has taken great care of this park for decades. We’re happy to keep working with them while making sure the funding better matches who uses the park the most.”
“This park is at the heart of our community,” said Electoral Area B Director Reid Graham. “The Board’s decision reflects what we heard from residents. This change keeps the Fall Fair tradition going while giving our local community more say in the park’s future. It’s the most practical solution based on what Area B residents told us they wanted.”
What this change means
- Area B residents will pay for the park through their taxes.
- Efforts will be made to increase public access to the grounds.
Next steps
- The PRRD will coordinate with the North Peace Fall Fair Society to put ideas from the Master Plan into action.
- The society will provide input on yearly priorities, help decide how to fund improvements and assist with the development of a capital plan for the entire site.
- The PRRD Board will review and approve each project during yearly budget discussions.
Background
The 43-acre park sits about 20 minutes north of Fort St. John in Electoral Area B. The community has gathered there for decades and it has hosted the North Peace Fall Fair for over 75 years. The PRRD talked with many community members in 2024 and created a Master Plan for the park’s future. Community members strongly supported keeping the North Peace Fall Fair Society as the park operator, especially Area B residents who value local volunteers running the park. The North Peace Fall Fair Society supports this change. The society will continue managing park access, events, rentals, maintenance and making sure the park follows all safety rules.
For more information about the North Peace Regional Park and the Master Plan, visit the Have Your Say project page at haveyoursay.prrd.bc.ca/nprp.
