Long-awaited upgrade to Kelowna’s City Park set to begin this fall

More than a decade after the City of Kelowna started revamping City Park on the lakeshore downtown, that work is going to move into its second of five phases of construction this fall.

And, if a grant comes through, the upgrade could be transformative with a pier, gathering circle and playground not be far behind.

“City Park is one of Kelowna's most prominent and well used parks,” a City news release stated. “Both visitors and residents enjoy the many amenities including sandy beaches, lush green space, playground and spray park.”

Those beaches and walkways took a hit because of flooding in recent years so this fall’s work will focus on improving pathways between the park’s two washrooms to make them smoother, wider and more accessible. Logs will be used along Hot Sands beach to prevent further erosion.

The work will begin after the Labour Day long weekend to avoid peak usage times.

Plans to upgrade the park started in 2008 with the pathway between Hot Sands beach and the bridge upgraded in 2010 in conjunction with construction of the William R. Bennett Bridge.

A public consultation process in 2013 got planners to focus in on ways to improve the flow and safety through the park with things like separated bike and pedestrian pathways.

Phase three, if the grants come through, will include the pier and gathering circle.

Further work is dependent on grants with phase four calling for a new path to separate cyclists from pedestrians and phase five will be a second path from Hot Sands beach to the bridge, separated for different users.

Public input is still welcome at the City's Get Involved web page here.

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