Renderings of the Kelowna Parkinson Rec Centre by Diamond Schmitt
KELOWNA – The City of Kelowna has officially broken ground on the redevelopment of the Parkinson Recreation Centre (PRC), marking a major milestone in its ambitious Building a Stronger Kelowna initiative. With design plans finalized and a development permit approved, construction is now underway on what is being recognized as the city’s most transformative recreation facility to date.
The new PRC is envisioned as an inclusive, multi-generational hub designed to welcome individuals of all ages and abilities. Created as a “community living room,” the redeveloped space will support movement, learning, connection, and social interaction—whether structured or informal.
“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.”
The redevelopment project reflects a decade-long municipal priority. Originally identified as a key community investment in the City’s Indoor Recreation Facilities Strategy, the PRC redevelopment was approved for planning, design, and construction by Council in 2023. The scope of the project includes not only the new PRC but also the creation of all-ages activity centres in Mission, Glenmore, and Rutland, along with new sports fields at Rutland Recreation Park.
In collaboration with the Westbank First Nation and Okanagan Nation Alliance, the City is also integrating syilx/Okanagan living history into both the design and delivery of the initiative, ensuring the facility reflects the region’s natural beauty and diverse cultural perspectives.
The expanded facility will offer significantly increased amenities and capacity, including:
- A 25-metre, 10-lane pool
- Leisure pool, hot tub, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna
- Three full-size gyms
- Fitness centre, walking/running track, and studios
- Multipurpose rooms, food services, and an ORL express library
Compared to the current facility, the new PRC will feature five times more athletic space, 2.5 times more aquatic space, and triple the programming capacity. The surrounding 19.4-hectare park—equivalent to 20 football fields—will offer six sports fields, 24 pickleball courts, green space, and trail connections to both the Apple Bowl and Mill Creek, as well as access to the Okanagan Rail Trail.
The redevelopment also addresses childcare needs in the growing community. It will provide 91 new childcare spaces with outdoor play areas, youth zones, and two fully accessible playgrounds.
Funding for the project is being provided through a $241 million loan from the Municipal Finance Authority, alongside contributions from other sources. These include:
- $25.1 million from the Provincial-Federal Child Care New Spaces Fund to support the creation of 273 childcare spaces
- $13.2 million from the Province’s Growing Communities Fund
In addition, the City is exploring collaboration with Okanagan College and the University of British Columbia Okanagan to identify opportunities for shared development and joint use of community-focused infrastructure.
Some of the companies involved in the project are Bird Construciton, Fast + Epp, Diamond Schmitt, Stantec, GHL Consultants Ltd, AES Engineering Ltd, AME Group and WSP in Canada.
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