Okanagan Lake and S.S. Sicamous get revamped

PENTICTON – The Okanagan Lake waterfront will soon get another new look, thanks to city staff who are putting together a plan to revitalize the area around the S.S. Sicamous.

Options for the plan were presented to city council last night, who will ultimately decide what they want to see in the new park.

The plan includes the creation of a plaza, a Penticton Indian Band cultural centre, public art, shoreline restoration, rose garden improvements, and roadway changes. Staff are still in the process of presenting the plan to all invested groups, including the S.S. Sicamous board, who will hear the presentation later this week.

The next step is to bring the concepts forward to the public, which staff will do at an upcoming farmers market.

Coun. John Vassilaki suggested hosting an open house instead of talking to passers-by at the market. However, his colleague, Coun. Andrew Jakubeit said the farmers market is one of the best outreach opportunities the city has, and is a good way of surveying a selection of people.

As for a budget, nothing is set in stone yet. The plan needs to be narrowed down to one project.

“Then we have an opportunity to look at what funding we have available,” — including grant opportunities, Operations Director Mitch Moroziuk said.

A building budget will be included in the presentation of the final project, he said.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.