Kelowna city council has signed off on a series of budget updates to the 2025 Financial Plan, including an unexpected design opportunity that would add a third floor to the new Parkinson Recreation Centre (PRC).
At council香蕉视频直播檚 June 23 meeting, staff explained that by maintaining the wave-like roofline planned for a section of the building, it was realized that attic space, that would otherwise go unused, could be utilized. The result is an extra 11,000 square feet of space on a new third floor.
香蕉视频直播淩arely do you see that occur during design where you have the nice roof line be able to help all the way through, and then actually have that attic space potentially be utilized,香蕉视频直播� said Derek Edstrom, the city香蕉视频直播檚 director of partnerships and investments.
The $5.5 million addition won香蕉视频直播檛 dramatically increase the project香蕉视频直播檚 construction costs but will give the facility more flexibility for future programming and community use.
Staff recommended the funding come from money originally earmarked for city hall exterior renovations planned for 2027.
There香蕉视频直播檚 no impact to taxation this year, and the design change will be reflected in the city香蕉视频直播檚 10-Year Capital Plan, which gets updated this fall.
The PRC wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the only big-ticket project on the table. Council also approved adjustments to speed up work on several other major infrastructure initiatives, including the Rutland Transit Exchange, the Kane/Valley roundabout, and critical water utility upgrades.
Some projects香蕉视频直播攕uch as the Okanagan College and Mission transit hubs香蕉视频直播攁re being delayed or scaled back.
Council also heard that investment in infrastructure has nearly doubled over the past five years, reaching $425 million annually.
So far in 2025, more than 20 major projects have been acquired, with over $200 million already committed or spent by June.
Highlighted projects currently underway or in development include planning for a new performing arts centre, the Hwy 97 Gateway study, detailed design for the PRC and Glenmore Protective Services Campus, and ongoing construction on the KLO Bridge, Burne Park, and airport expansions.
Recently completed work includes the opening of DeHart Park, two new baseball diamonds at Mission Recreation Park, and the long-awaited Bertram Street overpass.
