Park planning and resources

Major capital projects

Updated major projects list coming soon.

Park planning

Kalamoir Regional Park Management Plan

This plan was completed in 2005 and is being updated through a public engagement process in 2022. The process will engage our key stakeholders and the general Central Okanagan audience to help inform them of changes and updates to the plan. 

For more information, stay informed and receive project updates, visit yoursay.rdco.com.

Rose Valley Regional Park Trail Master Plan

Rose Valley Regional Park is a highly valued destination for trail users of all types including mountain bikers, runners, hikers and nature watchers. There are a number of trails inside the park, as well as a few that connect externally. The Trail Master Plan will provide guidance on existing and planned trails for the next 20 years that respect the conservation values of the park and quality passive trail opportunities for our residents and visitors.

For more information, stay informed and receive project updates, visit yoursay.rdco.com.

Official Regional Parks Plan update

The Official Regional Parks Plan (ORPP) is a high level guidance plan that sets the tone for the operation, management, acquisition and planning of Regional Parks. The original ORPP, completed in 2000, was a requirement to meet the conditions of the Regional Parks Act which has now been rescinded by the Province of BC. Despite this, the ORPP has been identified as the key guiding document for delivering Regional Parks Services as it connects the overarching RDCO Strategic Vision to Parks Services. An update to the ORPP will occur as time permits over the next couple of years.

Regional Parks use metrics

Our Parks Services department collects quality data on the number of people using our parks. This is done through trail and parking counters in a number of our parks. These metrics are important to gauge the usage of parks to help determine what amenities are needed in order to keep up with demand or if parks are getting too busy. 

Gibson House at Kopje Regional Park

Some of our Regional Parks contain historical information and assets. Gibson House is a European settler age historical home located in Kopje Regional Park. Our Parks Services department is working on how to best preserve the historic value of this heritage home. As a result, a Heritage Conservation Plan will be completed for Gibson House to guide its maintenance into the future.

Central Okanagan regional parks legacy program

The Central Okanagan Regional Parks Legacy Program outlines the direction for the future acquisition of Regional Parks from 2007 through 2017. It also identifies funding options, priority park land interests and a recommended action plan to facilitate implementation of the program.

Regional parks and greenway plan

The Regional Parks and Greenways Plan guides staff and the Regional Board in appropriate financial resources and management approaches for seven priority program activities for future expansion and potential acquisition of regionally significant land.

Protection and conservation of cultural heritage sites

This Memorandum of Understanding between the Regional District and Westbank First Nation (WFN) recognizes that the land throughout the Central Okanagan has been used by the syilx/Okanagan People since time immemorial. 

This document highlights the means to allow for future development projects within regional parks, while safeguarding the shared goals of protection, conservation and education of First Nation cultural sites within the parks.

sntsk'il'ntən - Black Mountain Regional Park

The Regional Board adopted the Management Plan for sntsk‘il'ntən - Black Mountain Regional Park in 2016.

The plan will help guide the Regional District over the next 20 years as it develops the 510-hectare geographic and cultural landmark. The plan also will help preserve the area's significant ecosystem and cultural values while providing opportunities for passive recreation, interpretation and connections to surrounding parks, linear trails and communities.

Goats Peak Regional Park

The Regional Board adopted the Management Plan for Goats Peak Regional Park in 2016. The plan will help guide the Regional District over the next 20 years as it develops and manages the 52-hectare waterfront park in West Kelowna while preserving the area's significant ecosystem and cultural values.

Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park

The Regional Board adopted the Management Plan for Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park in 2014. The plan will help guide the Regional District over ten years as it develops and manages the 406-hectare Regional Park while preserving the area along the south slopes as a nature conservancy.

Kalamoir Regional Park

The Regional Board approved the Kalamoir Regional Park Management Plan in 2005 when it was prepared after public consultation by a technical working group. The plan outlines various priorities for park improvement and plans for the protection of the sensitive environment within the park.

This plan is being updated through a public engagement process in 2022 involving our key stakeholders and the general Central Okanagan audience to help inform them of changes and updates to the plan. 

For more information and to stay informed and receive project updates, visit yoursay.rdco.com.

Mission Creek Regional Park

The Regional Board adopted the Mission Creek Regional Park Management Plan in 2021.  The 20-year plan was created with public and stakeholder involvement and provides a long-term vision to help guide future development and management opportunities for the 92-hectare park.  

Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park

The Regional Board adopted a Management Plan for Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park in 2017. This 20-year plan will help guide development of the 29.8-hectare Regional Park that includes four unique ecological areas and several species at risk.

Regional parks design guidelines

These guidelines are for planners, consultants, and contractors planning and constructing new and retrofit
projects within RDCO parks. They are intended to provide the necessary tools and resources to plan, build and maintain park infrastructure that preserves the quality and integrity of regional park ecosystems. They are also intended to contribute to Regional Parks branding in a way that is consistent, coherent, and appropriate to the natural character of the parks, and to increase efficiency in both design and construction of park infrastructure.

Regional Parks Design Guidelines

Regional parks operational wildfire protection plan

In February 2021, the Regional Board received an update to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) that was created in 2010 for Regional Parks. Since the release of the 2010 plan, many of the fuel management initiatives identified have been completed.

The new plan contains 35 recommendations for fuel management, FireSmart initiatives, community education, park infrastructure and wildfire response in the regional park system. 

RDCO Parks Services received a $30,000 Community Resiliency Investment program grant to modernize the plan and will act on the recommendations in the coming years.

RDCO Parks Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Urban forest health strategy

In March 2007, the Regional Board received an Urban Forest Health Strategy report prepared by B. A. Blackwell and Associates. 

The document identifies potential threats to the forested areas of the Regional Park system and recommends actions to reduce the impact, deal with the removal of wood waste materials and try to improve the overall health of the urban forest.

Urban Forest Health Strategy

Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park tree inventory and heritage orchard management plan

In January 2013, the Regional Board received the Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park - Tree Inventory and Heritage Orchard Management Plan. A $15,000 grant through the Tree Canada TD Green Streets Program was put towards this project. B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. completed the tree inventory and developed a heritage orchard management plan for the Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park. The resulting tree inventory included 516 orchard trees and 1,179 hazelnut shrubs, which consists of 12 distinct tree species and over 15 different cultivars. In addition, 190 native and other ornamental trees in the regional park were also inventoried.

The heritage orchard management plan will assist in future preservation efforts, development and operations of this unique collection of heritage nut trees.

Special thanks go out to project partners: Tree Canada, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and the Gellatly Nut Farm Society.

• Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park - Tree Inventory and Heritage Orchard Management Plan
• Presentation slides from Tree Inventory and Heritage Orchard Management Plan Presentation
• Tree Canada

Parks infrastructure capital needs assessment and 20-year infrastructure capital plan

This document will cover all 30 Regional Parks and set high-level capital project priorities.

Asset management of parks infrastructure will assist in annual budget planning, acquisition strategies, park improvement planning, and funding applications over the next 20 years. 

Stephens Coyote Ridge Regional Park management plan

Parks Services is in the process of creating a park management plan for Stephens Coyote Ridge Regional Park.

The plan will establish a vision for the future of the park and provide guidelines for staff for the management and development of the park.

Treehouse Forest Preschool pilot project (Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park)

In 2018, the Regional Board gave approval for Parks staff to explore the concept of an outdoor forest preschool in Woodhaven Regional Park. The 3-year pilot project is in partnership with the Clubhouse Child Care Centre to provide the Treehouse Forest Preschool in the park.

In April 2019, the Regional Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding and a three-year lease agreement with the Centre to operate the preschool.

An information session was held in March 2019 as an opportunity for the public to view the plans and talk to staff about this exciting new project. View the display panels from the open house below:

• Informational meeting display panels
• Map of proposed lease area map 
• Letter to neighbouring residents

Regional parks plan

The Regional Parks Plan establishes a framework for the overall direction of land acquisition, development, management and operation of the RDCO's Regional Park system over the next 20 years.

Regional Parks Plan | Bylaw No. 884