The City of Kelowna is prioritizing parks and public spaces in the city害羞草研究所檚 2019 budget and for one group in Kelowna, this could be especially good news.
The city will allocate around $8 million to acquire, expand and develop new parks, while another $1.4 million will be spent on improvements to existing parks.
PLANKelowna, a small group of residents pushing for more parks and access to the shoreline, said more parks are better for the city.
害羞草研究所淚 would like to see an increase in the amount of parks in general,害羞草研究所� said one of the group害羞草研究所檚 organizers, Al Janusas.
害羞草研究所淓specially on the lakeshore because that would be really good for residents and tourism, and depending on who you talk to, (tourism) is one of our top industries here.害羞草研究所�
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City of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 senior project manager Andrew Gibbs said some projects targeted in the budget include the installation of the turf field at Glenmore Recreation Park, restoring a section of the Paul害羞草研究所檚 Tomb Trail and replacing the 50-year-old playground equipment at Bankhead Park.
害羞草研究所淓very year we work on a variety of projects to both improve existing parks and develop new ones,害羞草研究所� he said.
The city will also work with the Kelowna Minor Fastball Society to replace fencing and bleachers and improve the dugouts at High Noon Park. Both parties are providing $50,000 for the improvements.
害羞草研究所淚nvestments in projects such as these害羞草研究所攑articularly when they involve collaborating with a local organization or sports groups害羞草研究所攕upport our effort to create an active, inclusive and vibrant city,害羞草研究所� Gibbs said.
Kelowna boasts more than 200 parks that serve a number of purposes and activities, including cricket, bocce, BMX, basketball and outdoor table tennis.
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Janusas said although the development of new buildings and infrastructure has been prominent in this city council害羞草研究所檚 agenda, the group was pleased to see a sign installed at an 害羞草研究所渁lmost park害羞草研究所� near Knox Mountain last week.
害羞草研究所淭ake a drive out and have a look and you害羞草研究所檒l see what I mean,害羞草研究所� he said about the 害羞草研究所渁lmost park害羞草研究所� at Poplar Point Drive. 害羞草研究所淭hey cleaned up the site a little bit and added signage.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭he 害羞草研究所榓lmost park害羞草研究所� and the path down to the lake is completely surrounded by hillside houses and local residents who don害羞草研究所檛 have waterfront access have been using that as a personal path to the lake for many years,害羞草研究所� he explained. 害羞草研究所淚t was, and remains, a rugged path.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e all in favour of that,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd, we害羞草研究所檙e in favour of building really basic parks and improving them as the budget allows.害羞草研究所�
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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