Mysterious road blockade pops up within controversial South Okanagan national park boundaries

No one seems to know who put up a barricade across a road within the working boundaries of the proposed South Okangan national park reserve.

Residents in the area said someone has moved large concrete blocks across the Fairview West Forest Service Road recently.

Parks Canada issued a statement today, Sept. 25, in which it noted a road on private property adjacent the Fairview-Cawston Road that links to Mt. Kobau had been blocked, and denied any responsibility.

"While the area in question falls within the working boundary for the proposed national park reserve, Parks Canada has no jurisdiction or involvement in this matter,” the Parks Canada release stated.

A social media post on the Locals Say No National Park Reserve Facebook page said the blocks had been moved out of the way on Sept. 22, to allow access.

“There is now a report of the violation with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development for an illegal blockade and they will be investigating these actions of blocking public access to public lands,” the post reads. It asks anyone with knowledge of who might be involved to message the group.

A spokesperson for Locals Say No National Park Reserve said the group has no further details at this time as to who might have set up the blockade.

Find past stories on proposed South Okangan national park reserve here.

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