Parks, roads, buildings, bridges and the many services piped below ground in Kelowna are referred to as a city’s infrastructure. Kelowna city hall has invested millions of dollars in building and maintaining infrastructure over the years and and annual it budgets millions more to maintain and add to the inventory.
Indispensable to the daily lives of city residents and businesses, the additions to, and upkeep of, civic infrastructure is one of the largest areas of the city’s annual budget. This year, just under $146 million has been earmarked for civic infrastructure projects alone.
Of the $145.9 million in projects that Kelowna plans to undertake in 2017, approximately $67 million is anticipated to be invested in new projects and $78.9 million will be carried over from 2016 projects, which includes airport development and the new Kelowna Police Services building under construction on Clement Avenue in the city North End.
In this, the first in a five-part series provided by the city, information about what the city has in store for parks is provided.
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City parks offer a space for play, recreation, athletics and community building. In 2017, more than $15.2 million will be spent on maintaining and improving the beautiful parks and beaches residents and visitors all enjoy.
“Every year, we complete routine and new projects to revitalize our public parks and beaches,” said Andrew Gibbs, senior project manager for infrastructure delivery with the city.
“Some of this year’s projects will include Boyce-Gyro parking and park improvements, Canyon Falls Park upgrades, Cedar Creek Park stair renewal, foreshore protection and three new off-leash dog beaches.”
In addition, a variety of local partnerships have been formed to undertake projects such as a courtyard in the heart of the Cultural District adjacent to the Laurel Packinghouse and construction of trail sections along Bellevue Creek in the Upper Mission trail system.
“Projects like this bring local partners together to create strong, vibrant and healthy communities,” said Gibbs.
Enhancing recreation amenities, making improvements for public safety and upgrading environmental features are part of the annual work that is done to ensure the quality of Kelowna’s natural treasures are protected.
Did you know?
• The City maintains 1,111 hectares of green space (222 parks), including 14,063 street trees and 480 garbage cans.
• On average, there are 140 events held in city parks and beaches every year.
• City staff mow grass weekly and rake sand along public beaches every day. (Note: With the current volume of debris coming ashore due to high water levels, it will take more time this year to get the beaches clear.)
Check out the infrastructure projects happening in your neighbourhood or subscribe to project updates atkelown.ca/cityprojects.