Planning Projects and Documents
What is the Regional Parks Plan?
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is one of the most spectacular areas in
the world to live. Residents and visitors alike are attracted to the area by its
mild climate, rich natural heritage and spectacular physical setting. The regional
parks system plays a significant role in protecting these natural surroundings,
while providing for a variety of outdoor activities.
The Regional Parks Plan (RPP) is intended to establish a framework for
the overall direction of land acquisition, development, management and operation
of the RDCO's Regional Park System. The Regional Parks mandate is to protect
regionally significant natural areas and provide regionally significant outdoor
recreation opportunities.
The plan will assist the Parks
Services Department in defining the future
direction, policies and priorities for Regional Parks over the next 20 years.
Bylaw No. 884 was presented to the Regional Board where it was reconsidered
and adopted on November 20, 2000. It provides an excellent foundation for continued
development of a successful regional park system.
Click here for a copy of the Regional Parks Plan
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A Central Okanagan Regional Parks Legacy Program
The Central Okanagan Regional Parks Legacy Program is a road map that outlines the
direction for the future acquisition of Regional Parks from 2007 through 2017.
The program identifies three key areas for future Regional Park land acquisitions:
- Biogeoclimatic Zone Gaps
- Regional Trails / Greenways
- Regionally Significant Interests
In addition to the key areas of park land acquisition, the Park Land Legacy Program
also identifies funding options, priority park land interests and a recommended
action plan that will provide the necessary tools to facilitate implementation of
the program.
Link to the
Regional Park Legacy Plan
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Regional Parks and Greenways Plan
In March 2007, the Regional Board approved the Regional Parks and Greenways Plan
(2008 – 2020). This long-term plan will assist both Regional Parks staff
and the Board in considering appropriate financial resources and management approaches
in seven priority program activities for future expansion and potential acquisition
of regionally significant land and ecosystems for the Regional Parks and Greenways
system.
Link to the
Regional Parks and Greenways Plan (2008 - 2020)
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Regional Parks Wildfire
Protection Plan
In April 2010, the Regional Board received an Operational
Wildfire Protection Plan
(OWPP) for the Regional
Park system. Blackwell
and Associates prepared
this plan specifically
identifying wildfire
risks for each park,
setting priorities for
those adjacent to urban
interface areas and
recommending options for
managing fire fuel
treatments on
approximately 768
hectares of land within
the Regional Parks. The
estimated cost of
conducting all fire
treatments in the park
system is $8 million.
As potential funds from
other government sources
and local governments in
the regional district
could possibly reach
$3.3 million a year for
all Central Okanagan
Community Wildfire
Protection programs, the
Board has been asked to
consider providing
approximately 20% of
that toward fuel
management and
mitigation in Regional
Parks. Regional
District staff will
implement OWPP
recommendations in
conjunction with the
development and
approvals in future
Parks Services budgets.
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Crown Land Acquisition
and Management Plans
The Regional District is
plans to acquire,
develop and manage Crown
Lands in several areas
of the Central Okanagan
for future additions to
the Regional Park
system. Each plan
involves public and
stakeholder input along
with First Nations
consultation and will be
presented to the
Regional Board for
consideration.
-
Black Knight
Mountain - The
Regional Board
has approved preparation of
an application to the
Integrated Land
Management Branch (ILMB)
to acquire one,
64-hectare parcel of
Crown land for eventual
creation of a new Black
Knight Mountain Regional
Park. This
application will be
submitted after first
coordinating an
agreement with the
Westbank First Nation.
The ILMB application
would be supported by
the
Crown land
Acquisition and
Management Plan
adopted by the Board (Link
to Board Report) and
any acquisition of Crown
land is subject to
approval of the
2010-2014 Financial
Plan. The
Acquisition and
Management Plan was
created for the Regional
District following a
public and stakeholder
consultation process in
order to protect
ecologically significant
(dry forest and
grassland) ecosystems on
the identified Crown
land in the area of
Black Knight Mountain
for the possible
Regional Park.
Map of
Areas of Interest
-
Hydraulic/McCulloch Lake
- The
Regional Board
has approved preparation of
an application to the
Integrated Land
Management Branch (ILMB)
to acquire Crown land parcels of
approximately
471-hectares for eventual
creation of a new
Hydraulic Lake Regional
Park. This
application will be
submitted after first
coordinating an
agreement with the
Westbank First Nation.
The ILMB application
would be supported by
the
Crown land
Acquisition and
Management Plan
adopted by the Board (Link
to Board Report) and
any acquisition of Crown
land is subject to
approval of the
2010-2014 Financial
Plan. A consulting team
developed the Plan to
protect ecologically
significant ecosystems
on two Crown Land
parcels in the area of
Hydraulic/McCulloch Lake
as a possible Regional
Park.
Map of
Areas of Interest
-
Trepanier Creek
- The
Regional Board
approved preparation of
an application to the
Integrated Land
Management Branch (ILMB)
to acquire approximately
6.5-hectares of
Crown land that would be
added to the Trepanier
Greenway Regional Park
in order to complete the
recreational corridor
link with the existing
linear trail in the
District of Peachland. The ILMB application
would be supported by
the
Crown land
Acquisition and
Management Plan
adopted by the Board (Link
to Board Report) and
any acquisition of Crown
land is subject to
approval of the
2010-2014 Financial
Plan. The
Acquisition and
Management Plan
was created for the
Regional District following a
public and stakeholder
consultation process in
order to
protect ecologically
significant ecosystems
on Crown land parcels
along Trepanier Creek.
Map of Area
of Interest
-
Spion
Kop - The
Regional Board approved
preparation of an
application to the
Integrated Land
Management Branch (ILMB)
for tenure acquisition
of approximately
311-hectares of Crown
land for the creation of
Spion Kop Regional Park.
This application will be
submitted after
coordinating an
agreement with the
Okanagan Indian Band. The ILMB application
would be supported by
the
Crown land
Acquisition and
Management Plan adopted by the Board
(Link
to Board Report) and
any acquisition of Crown
land is subject to
approval of the
2010-2014 Financial
Plan. The
Acquisition and
Management Plan
was created for the
Regional District following a
public and stakeholder
consultation process in
order to protect
ecologically significant
parcels of Crown land in
this area of Lake
Country between Okanagan
and Wood Lakes.
Map of Area of Interest
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Kelowna and Area
Mountain Bike Strategy
The City
of Kelowna and Regional District
are developing a
mountain bike strategy
to improve delivery and
management of the
recreational sport.
The Regional Board
received the strategy
report during the fall
of 2008. Follow
the link for more
information on the
Kelowna and Area
Mountain Bike Strategy.
Major Lakes Recreation Marine Facilities Study
The Regional District has contracted the team of GHD Solutions, JF Group and Summit
Environmental for a consulting services contract for preparation of a Recreation
Marine Facilities Study of the three major lakes in the Central Okanagan.
The Regional Board has received a detailed final report from the consulting team
that has been studying recreational marine facilities on Okanagan, Kalamalka and
Wood lakes within the Central Okanagan.
The study was developed through extensive public and stakeholder consultation and
research. The final report makes a number of recommendations regarding present
and future amenities for the boating and marine community in the Central Okanagan.
The Board has recommended that the final report be sent to member municipalities
for their consideration and response in light of possible financial implications.
Report Links:
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Gerstmar Park Conceptual Plan
In a joint project involving the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the City
of Kelowna, Outland Design Landscape Architecture was contracted to develop a conceptual
park plan for the property located at the end of Gerstmar Road near Mission Creek.
The conceptual plan was developed to aid the City and Regional District with budgetary
planning so that the park could be developed in the future, as funds become available.
Outland Design held two open public consultation meetings at the EECO (Environmental
Education Centre for the Okanagan) in Mission Creek Regional Park, completed a mail
out questionnaire to residents in the area and met with stakeholder groups in the
area, compiling the data into one final conceptual plan. The final product
presents an overview for the site including open space, natural parkland, turf areas,
children's playground, washroom facility and public parking.
Link to Concept Plan
Urban Forest Health Strategy
At its meeting in March 2007, the Regional Board received an Urban Forest Health
Strategy report prepared by B. A. Blackwell and Associates. The document identifies
potential threats to the forested areas of the Regional Park system and recommends
actions to reduce the impact, deal with the removal of wood waste materials and
try to improve the overall health of the urban forest. Link to
Urban Forest Health Strategy (5 MB, 181 pages)
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2005 Projects
Each year new projects are planned and developed in Regional Parks. Three
exciting new parks will be completed and opened this year.
Mission Creek Greenway Phase 2 , Scenic Canyon Regional Park and
Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park each provide park visitors with unique
Okanagan experiences. Watch for public open houses and events in the
Calendar of Events.
Mission Creek Greenway Phase 2 and Scenic Canyon Regional
Park
These two parks were opened as part of the City of Kelowna Centennial Celebration
on May 1st. Link to
Photos of the Grand Opening
Phase 2 of the Greenway adds another 9 three new bridges, lush areas of cedar, a
wetland boardwalk, breathtaking viewpoints and stunning geology such as Layer Cake
Mountain, Pinnacle Rock and several hoodoos. Special thanks go to the Friends
of Mission Creek for their years of dedication in making this recreational corridor
happen.
Follow this link to visit the
Friends website
Phase 1 Map
Phase 2 Map
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Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park
The Nut Farm celebrated 100 years of operation during the 2005 fall harvest,
which was also marked with the grand opening on September 17th. This park
is 9.88 acres and provides visitors with the opportunity to experience heritage
Buildings, a working nut orchard and public access to the lake.
Special thanks go to the Gellatly Nut Farm Society for its contributions to the
purchase and development of the park.
Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park Concept Plan
Gellatly Nut Farm Development Plan
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Other park master plans such as Mission Creek Regional Park and Scenic Canyon Regional
Park are also available by contacting the Regional
Parks Office.
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