More than 11 hectares of waterfront property is being added to Okanagan Lake Park, the province says.
The property was purchased for $10.5 million to expand the popular park located between Summerland and Peachland.
The BC Parks Foundation contributed $2.4 million and the rest came from the BC Parks Recreation Expansion Program, which funds expansion and improvements at provincial parks
“If we didn’t act to protect this area for people’s enjoyment and its ecological value, it could be ripe for development and a lost opportunity,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate change, in a news release.
The waterfront parcel is located on the north side of the park and includes about 436 metres of shoreline that will be enjoyed for recreation.
It will also protect important habitat for at-risk species like freshwater mussels, Lewis’s woodpecker and the western screech owl, the province says in a news release.
Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said the land purchase will enhance both the park and ecological diversity in the region.
“Protecting our waterfront and natural habitats is vital not only for the environment, but also for the sustainable tourism opportunities that draw visitors to experience the unique landscapes of the Thompson Okanagan,” she said.
Patrick Van Minsel, mayor of Peachland, said the protection of the property is a “great achievement” for locals and visitors to the Okanagan.
Before the land is legally added to the park, several steps must be completed, including consultation with First Nations, notes the province.
