Westside youth to benefit as former West Kelowna Parks Building is given new purpose

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 27, 2025

Going from parks to youth education, the former West Kelowna Parks Building will be leased out to Central Okanagan Public Schools for their important Take a Hike Program, which provides alternative education in support of youth mental health and emotional well-being.

On June 24, West Kelowna Mayor and Council voted unanimously to lease 3717 Elliott Road to School District 23 for $1 per year, plus the cost of utilities.

“This is a terrific, win-win solution that will benefit our Westside youth,” says City of West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom. “West Kelowna Council and staff are extremely pleased that the former West Kelowna Parks Building can be repurposed and provided to School District 23 for this important program.”

Giving Central Okanagan Public Schools the use of the building was key to keeping the Take a Hike Program running on the Westside, and the building could otherwise have sat empty while the City of West Kelowna explored long-term opportunities for the site.

“This new, much appreciated lease agreement will ensure that we can continue to offer an important alternative education program for approximately 50 youth,” says Central Okanagan Board of Education Chair Julia Fraser. “We had no place for this program to go for the 2025/2026 school year, as we continue to adjust to budgeting shortfalls, but thanks to the City of West Kelowna, and their strong partnership with Central Okanagan Public Schools, we have this ideal solution.”

The initial lease is for one year, with the option to renew for a second year.

The City of West Kelowna’s long-standing partnership with Central Okanagan Public Schools also includes a joint use agreement, which allows the school district to use municipal facilities for their programming. In exchange, the City of West Kelowna can use school facilities for its recreational programs.

BACKGROUND

• The City of West Kelowna inherited 3717 Elliott Road when the former Westbank Irrigation District was dissolved in 2011 and converted the building for Parks Department staff and equipment use shortly thereafter.
• Parks, Utilities, Roads, Construction and Fleet Department staff and equipment are now more efficiently centralized at the new City of West Kelowna Operations Centre at 2515 Bartley Road, which serves as the base for over 80 staff who maintain and operate critical community infrastructure, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• To learn more about School District 23’s Take a Hike Program, please visit https://cps.sd23.bc.ca/takeahike.
  • To operate the Take a Hike Program, School District 23 needed a building that would accommodate a dedicated classroom, separate office for a mental health clinician and storage space for outdoor equipment.
  • The building also meets access needs for young people as it is conveniently located immediately adjacent to the Westbank Centre Transit Exchange.

• To learn more about the City of West Kelowna’s Joint Use Agreement with School District 23, visit: https://pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=15591.