Upgrades are now complete at a pair of provincial parks in the Okanagan, just in time for camping season.
The Province says Kalamalka Lake Park in Coldstream and Sun-Oka Beach Park near Summerland now have upgraded trails, more parking and easier access.
"Sun-Oka and Kalamalka Lake showcase some of the best beaches, trails and natural beauty that BC has to offer, and we've heard they need to be improved as more and more families want to visit," said Tamara Davidson, minister of environment and parks.
"As some of the most popular destinations in the Okanagan, we prioritized upgrades to these parks to help people have a more enjoyable experience for many years to come."
The upgrades included the addition of 32 new parking spots at Kalamalka Lake park’s Twin Bays and Cosens Bay lots, including dedicated spots for horse trailers at Twin Bays.
Washroom facilities were also renovated at Twin Bays and three accessible pit toilets were added.
"I know that upgrades to Kalamalka Lake park are already making a big difference for my community and its visitors," said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby.
"Hikers and bikers, as well as beach-goers and horseback riders, can expect to have a much easier time accessing this fantastic park."
To the south, Sun-Oka’s entire 2.3-kilometre trail network has been repaved to improve access to the beach, playground, washrooms and picnic area, and water stations have been replaced.
Summerland mayor Doug Holmes said the continued investments from BC Parks will help ensure it remains an important amenity for residents and visitors.
"Sun-Oka park is one of the jewels of the Okanagan," he noted. “Not only does it have the lake's best south-facing sandy beach, but its separate dog beach is beloved by pet owners far and wide.”
The upgrades to Kalamalka Lake and Sun-Oka parks are part of a three-year, $21.59-million investment by the Province to increase and improve access to outdoor recreation in BC.
