Greater Vernon politicians may be willing to provide funds for expansion at a provincial park. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has been asked to provide $230,000 so the Ministry of Environment can increase parking at the boat launch at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park on Highway 97. “Staff will come back with more information about where it could be funded from,” said chairman Wayne Lippert.
Lippert believes there is a need for expanded boat launches in the area. “More people are wanting to use Kalamalka Lake and there are challenges with lake access,” he said. The proposal calls for a new 28-stall parking lot for single vehicles, while the north parking lot would be widened and paved to create 23 truck/trailer stalls. Director Gyula Kiss doesn’t believe GVAC will exceed its mandate if it uses local tax dollars at a provincial park. “The regional district had a role in the park right from the beginning. When it was first opened, we contributed $200,000,” he said. The financial request will be part of GVAC’s 2011 budget process, but actual funding could eventually include the rest of the North Okanagan Regional District. “We will see if other jurisdictions would put some money into it,” said Lippert of communities like Lumby, Enderby, Armstrong and Spallumcheen.
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