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Old stones ready to pave new paths

Pieces of Penticton’s history are about to be fragmented throughout the community – and bidding on them will help to grow the local hospital

Pieces of Penticton’s history are about to be fragmented throughout the community – and bidding on them will help to grow the local hospital.

During construction of the Rotary Park walkway project, just over 100 pallets of paving stones were recovered from the waterfront’s old groundwork.

Each pallet contains around 280 bricks which covers approximately 75 square feet of surface. Bidding starts at $75 per pallet, and each person can make their pitch on up to five pallets. All proceeds raised will benefit the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation.

“Waterfront revitalization is designed to inject energy and create a positive impact along Okanagan Lake. Salvaging and selling Okanagan Lake paving stones mean the project’s ripple effects will continue throughout Penticton,” said Mayor Andrew Jakubeit. “The paver sale is an affordable opportunity for residents to revitalize their own backyards, and funds will go to a great cause as well.”

The stones will be for auction from May 25 until June 5, and bids can be casted at the City Yards office at 616 Okanagan Ave. between 7:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. on weekdays. Revitalization of the old walkway began in March, and that work is expected to wrap up by June 12. The paving stones that were removed were filled in with a wider, smoother surface. The work is a continuation of a redesign plan along Lakeshore Drive that began in 2013.

The fundraiser will chip away at construction costs of the patient care tower project, which came with a $325-million price tag. Work is expected to begin by spring 2016 and be completed by the end of 2019. The tower will host 82 single-bed rooms, new ambulatory care clinics, additional operating rooms, the UBC Faculty of Medicine program, and the existing Emergency Department will nearly quadruple in size.

“We truly appreciate the City’s support for our fundraising campaign – the most ambitious in our history,” said Janice Perrino, Executive Director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. “The Foundation must raise $20 million to cover the cost of all of the medical equipment in the new tower.”