The City of West Kelowna was honoured with the BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) Facility Excellence Award 2017 for Memorial Park’s new Amphitheatre and Skate Park.
On April 6, Rebecca Tunnacliffe, BCRPA Chief Executive Officer, presented the award, for projects under $1 million, to Mayor Doug Findlater and city representatives at the association’s annual symposium in Kelowna.
“The City’s new Amphitheatre and Skate Park beautifully illustrate how much recreation, parks, physical activity and the cultural sector can contribute to a high quality of life in our communities,” said Tunnacliffe.
“These projects are obviously well-loved and appreciated by residents and visitors alike and will serve their community for many, many years to come.”
The City built the Amphitheatre and Skate Park with financial assistance from the Government of Canada with the official opening held in early summer of 2016.
The project cost a total of $813,000 with $315,437 contributed through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Project. A new, more advanced skate park replaced the 30-year-old crumbling and unchallenging (and rarely used) facility. The amphitheatre provides formalized seating with access stairs where visitors to the park formerly sat on a grassy, uneven and often steep slope to view stage events.
“We knew these projects would win the hearts of our residents and visitors and we continue to receive compliments on both of these amenities,” said Findlater.
“It is especially gratifying to be presented with this award by the BC Recreation and Parks Association for our work at Memorial Park and on behalf of all who were involved with the project, I thank the BCRPA for this recognition.”