The City of Kelowna has reached another milestone in the redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre (PRC), with a ground breaking ceremony that took place on April 30.
“Today marks a major milestone as we break ground on the most ambitious and transformative recreation facility in Kelowna’s history,” said Mayor Tom Dyas. “This project is a cornerstone of our Building a Stronger Kelowna initiative—a long-term vision for our city’s future that strengthens recreation, health, wellness, sport, community infrastructure, and our local economy. The investments we’re making today will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
City of Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas addressing event attendees.
When complete, the redeveloped Parkinson Recreation Centre will include a 25-metre x 10 lane pool, leisure pool, hot tub, cold plunge, steam room, sauna, three full-sized gyms, fitness centre, a running/walking track, fitness studios, multi-purpose rooms, food services and the ORL express library. The facility will have five times more athletic space, two and a half times more aquatic space, and three times as many program than the existing PRC. The 19.4-hectare park, the equivalent of 20 football fields, will include six sports fields, 24 pickleball courts, connections to the Apple Bowl and Mill Creek, park space, and access to the Okanagan Rail Trail.
These new spaces and amenities will be an invaluable addition to Kelowna’s sport hosting capacity. This modern infrastructure will position Kelowna as a strong contender to bid for and host both regional and national sporting events. By addressing existing gaps in venue availability, the new athletic spaces will open doors to major competitions—from basketball and soccer nationals to pickleball championships, to name just a few. Sport tourism is a major driver of the tourism sector, generating over $7.4 billion in economic value across Canada. Hosting events of this calibre in Kelowna will deliver significant economic benefits to our community, supporting local businesses and the tourism industry throughout the region.
The redeveloped PRC will also will provide 91 childcare spaces with dedicated outdoor play space, youth zones, and two accessible playgrounds. The existing facility welcomes everyone of all ages and abilities and the redeveloped PRC will do the same, designed to be an inclusive, welcoming space. To ensure facilities reflect the unique character and natural beauty of the region—and honour the diverse perspectives within it—the City is working in collaboration with Westbank First Nation and the Okanagan Nation Alliance to integrate syilx/Okanagan living history into the design and delivery of the Building a Stronger Kelowna initiative.
Thinking of hosting a sporting event? Tourism Kelowna offers a wide range of free services to support local clubs, as well as provincial and national organizations, in bidding for and delivering successful events in Kelowna. From bid design and development to sourcing hotel accommodations and venues, and more, we're here to help.
Click here for the full list of services we provide, and feel free to reach out to me at sara@tourismkelowna.com for more information.
View the full PRC ground breaking press release from the City of Kelowna here.
