The City of Kelowna is about to introduce a very cool locally grown project thanks to the dedication of Brad Dahl and the Kelowna Dragon Boat Society.
On Saturday May 19th, the launch of the Kelowna Paddle Trail will take place at Downtown City Park at 9 a.m.Paddling has become a very popular activity in Kelowna, whether you're standing up on a board or sitting in a kayak. It’s a great way to get some exercise while enjoying the amazing lake.
The Official Grand Opening event will host the largest flotilla Okanagan residents have ever seen!
The flotilla, A.K.A water parade, will depart after a short ribbon-cutting ceremony and will tour around the beachfront before turning around at Waterfront Park and returning to City Park, an approximately 2.5 km round-trip.
The City of Kelowna encourages all residents to participate in the water parade! Just bring your own non-motorized watercraft to Hot Sands Beach near the tunnel under the bridge before 9 a.m. Make sure to arrive early as the parade will begin at 9 a.m. sharp!
While participation in the event is free, a non-perishable food item to donate to the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank is appreciated.
The event will go until 12:00 p.m. and everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to try different paddle sports for free. All event goers will have the opportunity to watch races, demonstrations and learn more about water safety.
“The event helps to encourage non-motorized water activities that promote physical activity. Event goers can expect a great community-driven event featuring many different organizations that will offer opportunities and education about fun and safe water activities,” said Mariko Siggers, the Community and Neighbourhood Services Manager.
The Paddle Trail is marked by 22 highly visible and informative buoys that provide location information to all its non-motorized users. The Paddle Trail is approximately 28 kilometres long and highlights public beach accesses all along its path.
Each buoy informs paddlers about where they are along Okanagan lake, where to discover nearby beach accesses and how far until the next buoys.
All buoys are installed close to shore and are in front of 22 public beach access locations along Kelowna’s foreshore.
Buoys in the middle of the trail are approximately 500 to 1000 metres apart, offering a variety of paddle adventure length options, and the trail is designed to encourage all paddlers to truly embrace our beautiful waters and beaches.
“The launch of the Kelowna Paddle Trail is truly a celebration of the lake and exploration of our water front from a unique perspective,” said Siggers.
The City also has an interactive map online that paddlers can visit to find out additional information on launch points, washrooms, concessions and trail stops.
“The Kelowna Paddle Trail is a wonderful legacy from our community, that came to fruition because of the dedication of community-minded volunteers. Thanks to Brad Dahl and the Kelowna Dragon Boat Paddling Society, Okanagan Lake can be explored from a new vantage point,” said Siggers.
The Kelowna Paddle Trail is one of Kelowna’s Canada 150 legacies that was created and implemented in partnership with Brad Dahl and the Kelowna Dragon Boat Society. It was funded by the City of Kelowna and has become another epic Active by Nature route on the City’s interactive map.
The Paddle Trail is open to all kinds of paddlers. Whether you are a local or a visitor, an experienced paddler or new to the sport, the trail is available for everyone to enjoy!
To find out more information about the Paddle Trail, the event or how to participate in the flotilla, visit the City of Kelowna’s website.
Kelowna is the largest city in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, bordering Okanagan Lake. The City of Kelowna brings the community news, updates, events and more.
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