parks

Watch for whimsical pop up parks in Vernon

VERNON - A special surprise will be popping up in a Vernon park sometime this fall. It’s part of new city initiative to bring interest and excitement to underused spaces and will see a variety of temporary equipment — such as brightly painted Adirondack chairs, a piano, drums and a massive xylophone — installed in...

Homeless camps still a reality in Vernon parks

VERNON - With nowhere else to turn, members of the homeless community continue to sleep in public parks in Vernon.  A census done in October found six active homeless camps in the city, executive director for the Social Planning Council of the North Okanagan Annette Sharkey says. “That is up from previous counts, but not...

New Okanagan disc golf course lands in Vernon

VERNON - You’ve got your putting and your driving Frisbees, your heavy ones and your sleek, thin ones, and now fans of the popular sport of disc golf — and curious newcomers — will have a scenic, and best of all, free, course in Vernon to fling them on. It’s all happening on a city-owned...

Why Vernon fields are being watered daily despite water restrictions

VERNON - A number of people are complaining about watering restrictions in Vernon, but it’s not quite what you think.  Greater Vernon Water manager Zee Marcolin says most people are getting the message about stage one restrictions and have reduced their water consumption accordingly — no big objections there. What people are complaining about is...

Concern arises over rash of suspicious Vernon grass fires

VERNON - A pattern of suspicious brush fires in Vernon has the fire department on edge as the region heads into scorching temperatures this week. Since June 11, crews responded to four grass fires in the city, two in Becker Park June 11 and June 12, one in Jubilee Park June 22, and the fourth on...

City toilets, fountains and landfills open Easter weekend

KELOWNA - You can get in a workout and take a load to the landfill this holiday long weekend, but don't expect to be able to pay your back taxes or make a development variance application. Kelowna City Hall will be closed both Good Friday, April 3, and Easter Monday, April 6, for the Easter...

What do drones, e-cigarettes and geocaches have in common?

KELOWNA - Flying drones, e-cigarettes and geocaches are all soon to be targetted in Kelowna’s updated parks bylaw. “Things change, new issues emerge,” says parks supervisor Ian Wilson, who will present the proposed changes to city council on Monday, March 23. E-cigarettes will be banned in all public parks under the revamped bylaw. Wilson says...

Aging willow removed from Riverside Park

KAMLOOPS - An iconic tree, known for its graceful boughs that provide enough shade for several families next to Riverside Water Park, is no longer. City of Kamloops parks crews are removing the 50-year-old willow because it was quickly dying and posing a risk to public safety. “It was a beautiful tree… But over the...

Water parks open this weekend in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - It may not feel like summer is around the bend with the wet, cool weather lingering over Kamloops these past few days, but the city isn't about to let kids down. They're opening water parks at the end of the month. Starting Saturday, May 31, all City of Kamloops water parks will be...