Micheal Litowski bowling at Lincol Lanes Bowling Centre (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Vernon's Bowling Alley

City of Vernon to be asked to buy bowling alley

Jul 14, 2023 | 3:00 PM

The City of Vernon will have the chance to buy up the local bowling alley.

A presentation will be made to Vernon City Council on July 17, requesting the city purchase Lincoln Lanes Bowling Centre.

The bowling alley has been owned by the Wiffen family for over 50 years, and though they have tried to sell it recently, they have not been able to find a buyer who would continue to operate it as is.

The land where the bowling alley is situated is zoned as multi-family housing, meaning if someone does purchase it and knocks it down, there would be no opportunity to rebuild it as a bowling facility again in the future.

The land designation also means new owners would not be able to make commercial additions or upgrades to services at the alley, such as to the restaurant or bar.

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The ask, which will be put forward by Healther Leask on behalf of Lincoln Lanes and the Vernon Bowling Community at the regular meeting Monday, comes after she launched a petition for the city to purchase and save the bowling alley.

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Leask’s written request to council noted Lincoln Lanes is part of Vernon’s history and provides “safe, affordable, year-round, indoor family recreation, for Vernonites of all ages, income and ability levels,” adding if they lose the alley the nearest bowling options will be in Kelowna or Salmon Arm, which some people, particularly the older bowlers, may not be able to travel to for regular play.

The presentation also noted it would not be unreasonable for the municipality to own and operate a bowling alley, pointing to how the City of Port Coquitlam bought an alley with plans to dismantle the equipment and lane beds and move it to a new location.

“[The city] could buy the lanes and continue to operate them where they are, until such a time as they chose a different location to move them to,” Leask’s presentation read.

“They could then sell the land the lanes are currently on to a housing developer, and recoup most if not all, of the purchase price. That way the City’s plan for multifamily housing in that area is achieved, without the loss of a vitally important, economically sound, community-valued active living facility.”

Council is expected to receive the request for consideration and then direct city staff to investigate the possibility of purchasing the bowling alley and operating it as part of Vernon’s recreation services.