DeHart Community Park

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The updated schematic design is ready for public feedback!


From October 18 – November 20, 2022, the community offered feedback on park priorities and amenities through a survey, onsite walkshops, and an online survey. Based on public feedback, the design has been updated and residents are welcome to help inform the final concept from March 14 - April 2 through survey.

View the following through the list on the right of this page:

  • Seven illustrations of the park from various viewpoints to get an immersive on the ground look
  • An enlarged version of the overall park design
  • The open house display boards that include what's changed, key themes heard from the 1st engagement, a site analysis, and the thoughts behind different additions to the park



Participation Opportunities

Have your say by participating through the upcoming opportunities below.

Survey

Help finalize the schematic design by answering a few questions through the survey. Plus, you’ll be automatically entered to win 1 of 2 $50 Local Gift cards simply by sharing your feedback.

Open March 14 – April 2, 2023, so mark your calendars!

Open House - complete

March 15 from 2 – 6 pm, DeHart Park at 687 DeHart Road.

Onsite Park Walks - complete

Intermittently throughout the open house on March 15, project team members walked through the park and talked about the proposed features of the plan.

The project team thanks everyone who has interest in and participated in realizing DeHart Community Park.

Please read the What We Heard Report for a full scope of Phase 1 engagement.


Background

Parks play a major role in the social and physical well-being of Kelowna's citizens; these public spaces offer both passive and active recreational activities, are accessible to people of diverse ages and abilities, and contribute to our community's sense of identity.

DeHart Community Park is a key amenity in Kelowna’s Lower Mission neighbourhood and funding has been secured to move forward with the design and implementation of park amenities.

Development of the park has been a goal for both residents and the City of Kelowna for many years. In 2010, a concept plan for the park was created with input from the community, however, there was no capital funding at that time, and the park remained undeveloped. Funding is now available through the City’s Parks Development Funding program to proceed with design development and construction through 2023 - 24.

As the DeHart Community Park concept design is now more than 10 years old, the City wishes to consult with the community to update the schematic design to reflect today’s community needs. The intent of this consultation is to reengage the community in the planning process before moving forward in making the park a reality that contributes positively to the neighbourhood and the City of Kelowna as a whole.

Park Objectives

  • To provide a community-level park in the Lower Mission
  • To engage the community in participatory workshops that ensure a user-driven design solution
  • To provide improved pedestrian and cycling access from adjacent transportation corridors into park site
  • To build upon the park’s location adjacent to the existing Okanagan Mission Community Hall
  • To ensure both the existing mature trees and natural vegetated areas are maintained wherever possible
  • To help the City of Kelowna achieve its goals for a carbon-neutral and sustainable site


Have a question?

Check out the FAQs or submit a question to the project team.


The updated schematic design is ready for public feedback!


From October 18 – November 20, 2022, the community offered feedback on park priorities and amenities through a survey, onsite walkshops, and an online survey. Based on public feedback, the design has been updated and residents are welcome to help inform the final concept from March 14 - April 2 through survey.

View the following through the list on the right of this page:

  • Seven illustrations of the park from various viewpoints to get an immersive on the ground look
  • An enlarged version of the overall park design
  • The open house display boards that include what's changed, key themes heard from the 1st engagement, a site analysis, and the thoughts behind different additions to the park



Participation Opportunities

Have your say by participating through the upcoming opportunities below.

Survey

Help finalize the schematic design by answering a few questions through the survey. Plus, you’ll be automatically entered to win 1 of 2 $50 Local Gift cards simply by sharing your feedback.

Open March 14 – April 2, 2023, so mark your calendars!

Open House - complete

March 15 from 2 – 6 pm, DeHart Park at 687 DeHart Road.

Onsite Park Walks - complete

Intermittently throughout the open house on March 15, project team members walked through the park and talked about the proposed features of the plan.

The project team thanks everyone who has interest in and participated in realizing DeHart Community Park.

Please read the What We Heard Report for a full scope of Phase 1 engagement.


Background

Parks play a major role in the social and physical well-being of Kelowna's citizens; these public spaces offer both passive and active recreational activities, are accessible to people of diverse ages and abilities, and contribute to our community's sense of identity.

DeHart Community Park is a key amenity in Kelowna’s Lower Mission neighbourhood and funding has been secured to move forward with the design and implementation of park amenities.

Development of the park has been a goal for both residents and the City of Kelowna for many years. In 2010, a concept plan for the park was created with input from the community, however, there was no capital funding at that time, and the park remained undeveloped. Funding is now available through the City’s Parks Development Funding program to proceed with design development and construction through 2023 - 24.

As the DeHart Community Park concept design is now more than 10 years old, the City wishes to consult with the community to update the schematic design to reflect today’s community needs. The intent of this consultation is to reengage the community in the planning process before moving forward in making the park a reality that contributes positively to the neighbourhood and the City of Kelowna as a whole.

Park Objectives

  • To provide a community-level park in the Lower Mission
  • To engage the community in participatory workshops that ensure a user-driven design solution
  • To provide improved pedestrian and cycling access from adjacent transportation corridors into park site
  • To build upon the park’s location adjacent to the existing Okanagan Mission Community Hall
  • To ensure both the existing mature trees and natural vegetated areas are maintained wherever possible
  • To help the City of Kelowna achieve its goals for a carbon-neutral and sustainable site


Have a question?

Check out the FAQs or submit a question to the project team.

Questions & Answers

Have a question about the DeHart Community Park project? 

Type in your question below and someone from our team will answer it for you!

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Given the very high demand for Community Garden access throughout Kelowna (every City one has a huge waitlist, a private one in North Glenmore was just overwhelmed with subscriptions), will you be expanding the number of Community Garden plots?

    bmacbeth asked 24 days ago

    The Community Garden is managed by the Community Garden Society, who have indicated they prefer to operate gardens no larger than 40-50 plots. We plan to maintain approximately the same number of plots as the existing garden, about 45. There are many programming needs for this park, and we are working to balance all park requirements and community requests.

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    What would be the process for changing the name to better reflect the historical significance and its location in the centre of Okanagan Mission?

    Len McFarlane asked 14 days ago

    Thank you for your question! An alternate park name may be considered for parks with greater significance, per the Park Naming Policy, and may be considered during detailed design.

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    Is there going to be a skateboard park? If not why?

    Gavinleigh asked 9 days ago

    Thank you for your questions! There are some smaller skateboard elements planned for the park; however, a larger skate park is planned for Mission Recreation Park in 2025 intended to serve the Mission neighbourhood and beyond.

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    Why have you included a soccer field? There are so many soccer fields in Kelowna that it seems this space could just be used for leisure space or somewhere for the gardeners and others to relax.

    lucile asked 9 days ago

    Thank you for your comments. The soccer lines shown are intended to show scale on the grass area, rather than designated programming. It will be a multi-use field area for many to enjoy.

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    Will there still be be the splash pad/water park in the childrens playground area? And will it be semi fenced in as it is at Quilchena Park?

    Heatherm asked 8 days ago

    The park will not have a splash pad, but there are plans to incorporate water play elements that do not spray water on users, but allow water interaction. An example of this would be a water trough in which the user can control water entering the trough.

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    When will the tennis facility actually service the people in the area instead of running a private club with limited access and expensive membership requirements ? Why would we not make a plan for some capability of indoor tennis and pickle ball with a dome or a permanent structure so people can play year round ? Why are we adding more soccer fields when there are lots of underutilized fields at H2O ? Are there going to be membership fees for all of these facilities as per the fees to play tennis at the current facility ? Why would we extend the lease to the status quo at the tennis facility ?

    Bob 😎 asked 9 days ago

    Thank you for your questions; they are answered for you below:

    • The Okanagan Mission Hall currently leases the existing tennis courts, they operate and maintain the courts through their membership fees.
    • There is no plan for this site to support a dome structure. 
    • The soccer lines shown are intended to show scale or the grass area, rather than designated programming. It will be a multi-use field area. 
    • There will likely not be membership fees associated with the proposed courts, although pre-booking may be required.
    • The tennis lease is managed by the Real Estate division and our Active Living department, who assess capacity the City has to manage and maintain our current inventory, while balancing programming opportunities and constraints.
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    A bike pump would mean high bike traffic. Are there pedestrian & bike designated lanes on the paths? A bike pump seems a waste of space being that it would have to be quite small. Alternatively, would a bike trail along the outside of the park be possible? Lessening the probability of so many bike & pedestrian interceptions?

    Heatherm asked 8 days ago

    Thank you for your comments! The pump track is intended to be a junior level amenity for multiple wheeled activities, such as bikes and scooters. The trails will be multi-use, primarily compacted gravel. The ATC (multi-use trail) will be built adjacent to the park along DeHart Road and will hopefully help mitigate multi- modal use at the perimeter of the park.

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    Great park design! I wonder if you could use the large logs on the lot to make a more interesting and natural play area for the younger children?

    CarolMillar asked 5 days ago

    Thank you for your suggestion! The logs on the site are being stored for other restoration projects throughout the City, but we have sourced logs that we will likely use in the park. The park is intended to incorporate nature-based play and logs will be an important part of this. We will also endeavor to use any trees on site that have to be cut down due to poor tree health and safety considerations.

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    There are a number of elements that could be accessible, but it’s not clear from the plan. Could you talk about washrooms, shared spaces for rent, the community garden, and what accessible elements will be in the children’s playground and water park? Thank you!

    Mahewitt asked 12 days ago

    While the park design hasn't been finalized, various amenities will be accessible and will include play elements for a diversity of ages. 

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    Survey Help finalize the schematic design by answering a few questions through the survey. Plus, you’ll be automatically entered to win 1 of 2 $50 Local Gift cards simply by sharing your feedback. Open March 14 – April 2, 2022, so mark your calendars DO YOU MEAN 2023?

    No name asked 21 days ago

    Great catch - old habits die hard! It has been updated to 2023. 

Page last updated: 16 Mar 2023, 03:33 PM