EECO Adjusts
Schedule
The
Environmental Education
Centre for the Okanagan
is moving to a
six day a week
schedule.
Starting Monday,
February 6th,
the Regional District
EECO interpretive centre
in Mission Creek
Regional Park will be
open Tuesday through
Sunday and closed on
Monday.
Communications Officer
Bruce Smith says, “The
Monday closure will
allow our interpretive
staff to work on an
exciting initiative.
We’re undertaking a
program to improve the
experience of people
visiting our various
regional parks. This
includes updated and
more on-site information
kiosks, trail mapping
and identification and
improved trail
directional signage.
Our goal through this
multi-year program is to
gradually improve the
experience of people
using our regional
parks. Later this year
people should begin to
see the results of this
program starting with
Mission Creek Regional
Park and over time in
other regional parks.”
Even
with the Monday closure,
nearby
Mission Creek
Regional Park remains
open and fully
accessible for visitors
to explore. Anyone that
wants to book Regional
Parks and facilities
will still be able to do
so. They can contact EECO staff at
250-469-6139 or email
eeco@cord.bc.ca. As
well, teachers will
still be able to book or
hold special field trip
interpretive programs on
Monday’s in the
downstairs classroom at
the EECO.
Smith adds, “Monday’s
traditionally see fewer
visitors to the EECO and
as a result, we
anticipate the closing
will have less impact.
Many other local and
national interpretive
facilities and museums
also have early week
closures, so that their
staff is available to
work on other projects.”
Hunters in the Sky
Exhibit at the EECO
Falcons, Hawks and Owls
have taken over the
Environmental Education
Centre for the Okanagan
in Mission Creek
Regional Park.
These Okanagan raptors
are the key animals
featured in the
‘Hunters in the Sky’
exhibit at the EECO.
It features displays and
activities focusing on
Raptors: birds that use
their exceptionally keen
senses to hunt primarily
while flying. The
exhibit, which runs
through May, helps you
investigate what makes
these Birds of Prey,
different from other
birds. Teachers and
community group leaders
may also wish to request
the popular ‘Owls of
the Okanagan’
program and you can book
your space by contacting
the EECO at
250-469-6140.
The Environmental
Education Centre for the
Okanagan or EECO is
located in
Mission Creek
Regional Park at
Springfield and Durnin
Roads. For more
information visit the
Regional District
website
regionaldistrict.com/parks
or contact the EECO at
250-469-6140 or email
eeco@cord.bc.ca
EECO
Story
Time
The
Environmental Education
Centre for the Okanagan
or EECO offers a fun program for
pre-schoolers this
winter. Participation
is by donation as three
to five year old
children and their
caregivers take part in
EECO Story
Time on
Wednesday mornings
through February 29th.
The sessions run from
10:00 am to 11:00 am and
during the hour, you’ll
be treated to a nature
story, songs, games and
crafts for the
youngsters. It’s a fun
and active way to learn
more about our Regional
Parks and the animals of
the Okanagan. There’s
plenty of parking at the
EECO, located in
Mission Creek
Regional Park at
Springfield and Durnin
Roads.
View Poster
For more information
visit the Regional
District website
regionaldistrict.com/parks
or contact the EECO
staff at 250-469-6140.
Large Fire Hazard - Fuel Reduction Project
Underway
Crews have started work
on a large fire hazard
fuel modification
project in Rose
Valley Regional Park.
For their safety and
that of workers, park
users are reminded to
stay out of areas that
are closed. Trails
leading into work areas
will be signed and
barricaded. Failing to
stay out of a closed
area could result in a
$500 ticket. As well,
dog owners are reminded
that they must keep
their pet on leash and
on trails in any
regional park or they
could be subject to a
$100 ticket. Dogs that
are not leashed may also
pose a safety hazard
with crews working on
the fuel modification
project.
This project will see
pine beetle infested and
dead hazard trees,
brushing and ground
fuels removed from
approximately
50-hectares of the Crown
land tenure between the
Rose Valley Properties
subdivision, Westlake
Road, Rose Valley
Elementary School, West
Kelowna Road and McPhail
Court.
Project Map
In light of the size of
the area and expected
large volume of wood
debris, the Regional
District will be burning
debris piles within Rose
Valley Regional Park to
remove the fire hazard.
The project has received
permits and approvals
from West Kelowna Fire
Rescue.
A letter explaining the
project and map showing
the work area in the
park was mailed to
residents in the
immediate area. Local
fire departments, the
media and Rose Valley
Elementary School will
be notified before any
debris burning takes
place and a notice will
also be placed on the
Regional District
website:
regionaldistrict.com/parks.
The Regional District
will also be conducting
fire hazard reduction
and tree removal work on
a ten-hectare Crown land
portion of
Glen Canyon
Regional Park at the end
of Smith Creek Road.
Project
Map
For more information
visit the Regional
District website, email
parks@cord.bc.ca or call
250-469-6232.
Visitors to several
Regional Parks within
the City of Kelowna
shouldn’t panic if they
come upon signs
indicating a rezoning
application has been
made.
The Regional District
has applied to the City
for the rezoning some of
the lands that are
within the regional park
system that are not
presently zoned
appropriately for park
use. Communications
Coordinator Bruce Smith
says, “People shouldn’t
worry when they see the
signs; we’re not
changing the park use.
These lands require a P3
designation or Park Use
zone to conform to the
present use which is
allowed under any zoning
designation. A
requirement of the
rezoning process is the
posting of signs
indicating that the
application has been
made and is being
considered.”
Some of the Regional
Park parcels that are
part of this
housekeeping rezoning
project include:
Bertram Creek,
Cedar
Mountain,
Scenic Canyon,
Robert Lake,
Mill Creek,
Stephens Coyote Ridge
and the
Mission Creek
Greenway. Smith adds,
“Park visitors and users
should understand that
the rezoning project
will not result in any
change from the current
park use and doesn’t
impact our park
management plans. It’s
merely a housekeeping
measure to bring the
zoning in line with
current park uses on
approximately
312-hectares within the
existing parks.”
The Regional District
operates 29 Regional
Parks throughout the
Central Okanagan on
behalf of all
residents. Nine of
them are within City of
Kelowna boundaries.
For more information on
this project you may
visit Regional Parks
Services online at
regionaldistrict.com/parks;
email parks@cord.bc.ca
or phone 250-469-6232.