Recreation Parks

Recreation parks are generally designed to serve a population of 45,000 people within 5 kilometers; in fact they serve city-wide interests. Therefore only 4 are currently planned within Kelowna; Rutland Recreation Park, Parkinson Recreation Park, Mission Recreation Park and Glenmore Recreation Park.

Typically Recreation parks provide:

high activity sportsfields
tennis courts
lacrosse boxes
recreation complexes which include recreation centres for all ages including youth and seniors facilities
arenas and pools.

These sites attract large numbers of participants and spectators, therefore access from an arterial roadway and the availability of public transit and designated bikeways is necessary. Substantial parking must also be provided to reduce the impact of on-street parking.

Recreation parks also serve as community and neighbourhood parks, therefore they must provide the amenities typical of neighbourhood and community parks. These sites must have high standard sportsfields that are developed and maintained to withstand high use. However, fields must be used at a level that balances horticultural needs and the community’s expectation for quality fields.

Recreation park fields are lit for community use and for major sport tourism. Recreation parks must also incorporate passive uses for all ages for general relaxation, walking and picnicking. Ideally these sites should be 27 ha in size if they serve 45,000 people.

These sites should include:

large playgrounds that accommodate the disabled
trees and a variety of plantings
multi-recreational trails
security lighting.

In addition they should be located on the edge of residential development rather than within to reduce the impact of traffic, the glare of sportsfield lighting and noise. These sites must be fully serviced by all utilities.

As the remaining undeveloped lands associated with the Mission site were released in their entirety from the Agricultural Land Reserve for park development, expansion and development of the Glenmore District Park may not be necessary within the next 20 years. However, a site must be protected so that land capable of recreation park development is available in the future.