A long-term plan to transform Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Lower Mill Creek into a connected, nature-friendly park space is moving ahead.
City council endorsed the Lower Mill Creek Linear Park Strategic Plan at it香蕉视频直播檚 July 7 meeting.
The 20-year initiative lays out how the city will restore habitats, improve trails, and make the creek corridor more accessible.
香蕉视频直播淭his is a tremendous job. Tremendous plan, and one more thing to enhance Kelowna for not only visitors but also locals,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Charlie Hodge.
The plan divides the 7.5-kilometre corridor into 25 sections, each with cost estimates, allowing phased improvements to be blended into the city香蕉视频直播檚 10-year capital plan. Some areas could see action within five years, while others will take longer香蕉视频直播攗p to two decades.
Coun. Luke Stack suggested celebrating these early milestones to raise public awareness.
香蕉视频直播淎s little chunks open up, will there be little celebrations saying this next phase is open so the public is aware?香蕉视频直播� he asked staff.
City landscape architect Keith Pinkoski acknowledged that parts of the corridor could open to the public sooner rather than later.
香蕉视频直播淐ertainly, yes, we can make efforts to have a little bit more of a smaller celebrations for that for sure,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hrough the zero to five year timeline, there are several initiatives in there that could be more of a loop and so that they can come online a little bit sooner.香蕉视频直播�
The corridor weaves through some of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 busiest neighbourhoods. Much of the trail system will follow existing public land, but in some areas, space is tight. That means walkers and cyclists might need to detour onto nearby streets, especially where properties back directly onto the creek.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 gonna be some sections where there just isn香蕉视频直播檛 room to build right up next to it,香蕉视频直播� noted Coun. Rick Webber.
Pinkoski agreed.
香蕉视频直播淚n many instances, that is the case. Where we have the appropriate amount of buffering and where it香蕉视频直播檚 feasible to put the trail香蕉视频直播攖hat香蕉视频直播檚 why we have presented several different sections today.香蕉视频直播�
Pinkoski added that property owners will continue to be consulted throughout the design and construction phases.
香蕉视频直播淎s we get into more of the detailed design and finite routing...we will certainly go in and connect with property owners and residents as we build along.香蕉视频直播�
Accessibility was also a focus for council.
香蕉视频直播淚t may not meet all accessibility guidelines, but it will certainly be something where folks of varying degrees of accessibility can access," Pinkoski noted. "But we香蕉视频直播檒l do the best we can to make it...compliant.香蕉视频直播�
City Manager Doug Gilchrist said Kelowna has a good track record in managing similar projects.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 some fantastic examples for our city where we香蕉视频直播檝e built Mission Creek through what was once backyards,香蕉视频直播� he said 香蕉视频直播淏randt香蕉视频直播檚 Creek is a more recent example of where we did that, I think, quite sensitively.香蕉视频直播�
New features along the Mill Creek corridor will include improved trail crossings, shared streets in quieter neighbourhoods, benches, public art, and rain gardens to manage runoff.
