A rendering of the proposed new $251 million Parkinson Recreation Centre.
Image Credit: Submitted/City of Kelowna
April 14, 2025 - 3:50 PM
The roughly $251 million redevelopment of the Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna has been in the works for years and now the development permit has been approved by city council.
The new and improved recreation centre is set to have five times the athletic space, 2.5 times more aquatic space, and three times the program capacity. It’s also going to have space for childcare, food services and an Okanagan Regional Library. There will be three full-sized gyms, a 10 lane pool, and more.
“For more than a decade, this redevelopment has been identified as a critical need. With the development permit now approved, city council and staff are moving this exciting project forward. A formal groundbreaking is expected this spring, with additional permit approvals to follow in the months ahead,” Mayor Tom Dyas said in a statement today, April 14.
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The city did a feasibility study that said building a new recreation centre would be a better investment for the city than renovating the current building.
The city borrowed millions to help pay for the project, but the city said property tax increases will stay around 4 per cent over the next few years.
“Today, council took a significant step forward in transforming recreation in our city, with a majority voting to approve the development permit for the new Parkinson Recreation Centre. The new Parkinson Recreation Centre will be the most ambitious and transformative facility in Kelowna’s history, designed to meet the needs of a growing, active, and diverse population,” Dyas said.
The new and improved rec centre is estimated to be complete in 2027.
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