Kelowna residents invited to share input on Mill Creek Linear Park Plan

Kelowna residents are invited to provide input on the priorities for the Mill Creek Linear Park and Burne Avenue Park projects through online and in-person opportunities.

As early planning and design is underway for the parks, there will be an upcoming information session on March 16 and a series of “walkshops” April 19-20, where residents can speak with City staff about the project area.

“The flooding of Mill Creek in 2017 and 2018 resulted in record-breaking stream overflows that impacted residents, parks, trails and roads,” says Keith Pinkoski, a planner specialist.

“Kelowna residents faced extensive property damage in nearby subdivisions, interrupted access to public services and businesses, and impacted the Kelowna International Airport.”

Between March and April, City staff will be consulting with the community to share information about some of the improvements taking place along the Mill Creek corridor and to seek input on park amenity preferences before finalizing plans.

“The City has secured funding to develop an overall strategy to improve Mill Creek as a linear park and enhance sensitive ecosystem habitat along the corridor, while adapting to flooding where we can,” Pinkoski adds.

The Mill Creek Flood Protection Project is a multi-year, multi-million dollar initiative to improve the creek corridor and reduce flooding potential from the Kelowna Airport to Okanagan Lake.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, the project is expected to improve creek capacity by rehabilitating creek riverbanks, improve riparian and fish passage, reduce debris accumulation and add temporary off-stream storage opportunities.

Planning and construction began in 2020.

In addition to public and stakeholder engagement, the two park projects will be guided by technical analysis, hydrology and several long-term planning documents, including the Mill Creek Master Plan and Linear Parks Master Plan.

Early-phase park construction is expected to begin by 2024.

Mill Creek Linear Park is from Parkinson Recreation Centre to Okanagan Lake, and Burne Avenue Neighbourhood Park is between Richter and Ethel Streets.

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