Cemetery Parking Lot Closed for Paving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 12, 2019

As part of ongoing improvements at the Westbank Cemetery, the City of West Kelowna is paving the parking lot and access roads surrounding the memorial gardens.

Staff must shut down the parking lot and limit access to the cemetery during the paving work on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17. The paving project will improve safety and accessibility and create better use of the parking lot.

This is the fourth improvement project at the cemetery over the past six years.

In 2016, the City expanded the cemetery to the east to include garden pathways, a memorial wall, ossuary and additional resting places. In 2014, crews planted trees, shrubs and grass to transform the once dry, gravel cemetery into a more park like setting. Earlier that year, the City also had columbaria and mausoleums installed and created a wheelchair accessible courtyard with benches and a concrete deck and railings, taking advantage of sweeping Lake Okanagan views.

An improvement district established the Westbank Cemetery, at 3200 Elliott Road, in 1925. The City assumed Cemetery operations in 2011 under the terms of incorporation. The following year, Council adopted the Westbank Cemetery Strategy, to create a self-sustaining operation and enhance the facility.

For more information, please visit www.westkelownacity.ca/cemetery or call 778-797-8875.