In your words: why active spaces matter
Think of one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish. Maybe it’s completing a triathlon. Or making new friends through a book club. Maybe it’s learning how to paint or sharpening your skills in the kitchen. Whatever that next step is for you in living your best life, know there are not only programs to help you achieve them, but plans in place to grow them.
Over the next four years, significant shifts will be made to Kelowna’s sport and wellness landscape in every neighbourhood through the Building a Stronger Kelowna initiative.
The redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, centrally located in the core of Kelowna, will be rebuilt nearly three times larger as a destination recreation and wellness centre, but more sustainably with ambitious targets to be a net zero carbon facility.
Kelowna’s four largest neighbourhood-based recreation parks – Rutland, Glenmore, Mission, and Parkinson Recreation Parks - will see additions and enhancements including new courts (yes, that includes pickleball courts), sports fields and plaza spaces for community connection. Two new activity centres for all ages will be built within the Glenmore and Mission Recreation Parks, supporting community programs, as well as events and gatherings at the neighbourhood level. Holistic and strategic planning also includes advancing key partnerships through investment in facility projects with Kelowna’s schools including UBCO, Okanagan College and School District 23.
A thoughtfully timed construction plan is in development to ensure enough fields, gyms and spaces are available for community use while on the path to achieve this vision. The new facilities will be designed as welcoming, inclusive, and sustainable spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, stay active, and learn new skills.
As plans are being finalized for each of these spaces through 2024, we’ve heard from the community about why active spaces matter most to them. Here’s just some of what we heard from over 200 contributions from Kelowna residents:
Over the course of 2023 and early 2024, we heard a variety of perspectives on why spaces for sport, wellness and connection are important to build community (watch the video series).
Congratulations to Sherri K., winner of the grand prize through community engagement, she wins a stand-up paddleboard! Thank you to everyone who participated as this valuable input helps to guide our project team as what matters most to residents. Sherri shared the idea:
Stay updated on the progress of these community, sport, and wellness projects by signing up to the Building a Stronger Kelowna seasonal e-newsletter.
