Resident proposes ‘creative’ changes to Kal Beach

Jun 13, 2024 | 5:00 AM

A resident of Coldstream has presented his vision for improvements to Kal Beach and the North Kalamalka area to the district’s council.

John Myhill, who has lived near Kal Beach for almost 30 years, proposed upgrades to the beach design, trail connections and a three-way intersection to improve safety and aesthetics around the beach.

“I believe I can offer some creative and useful ideas to make to the North Kalamalka plan currently in motion,” Myhill wrote in his report. “There have been virtually no enhancements to the area in question in 40 years, other than a wheelchair ramp at the beach parking area and the Middleton Mountain Trail. There is certainly a great deal of room for improvement.”

Here is Mr. Myhill’s list of proposals:

Beach approach

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• Remove most or all of chain link and barbed wire fencing, adjacent to rail line and along beach. It is unnecessary and unattractive.

• Existing fence posts, where kept, would be shortened to handrail height, and powder coated black. Some new dark chain link fencing could be installed in the volleyball area.

• Widen approach from parking lot to road level if possible. Slight road realignment, along with raising the crosswalk (which would also help with traffic calming) could make this work, as grade separation performs this function.

• Removal of obsolete wooden railway signal line poles (to be arranged with CN).

Remove the boulevard/ island at the existing passenger drop off

• This is an unattractive obstruction that serves no discernable purpose.

• Space could be repurposed to provide more efficient drop off and more extensive handicapped parking (usually all three existing spots are filled in the summer).

Changes to Kal Beach area proposed by resident John Myhill (District of Coldstream image)

Replace wooden storage building at Alexander’s side of beach with vendor’s gazebo

• Remove decrepit storage building, which appears to have no BCHP connection in any case.

• If extra storage is required, add on space to existing buildings mid-beach.

• Repurpose the space to include a flexible use readymade commercial gazebo structure or booths to allow for 6-10 vendors, such as craft, coffee, snack, or weekly and holiday farmers’ market

• Design the vendors’ building to allow for 3-4 season usage

Redesign Kalamalka and Westkal intersection

• Intersection needs to allow for changes in area usage. For example, Kickwillie is no longer the Coldstream to Kelowna car traffic route.

• New rail trail non-motorized traffic needs to flow smoothly and safely.

• Beachgoers and individuals carrying SUPs and equipment to beach need safe access.

• Space does not allow for a roundabout, which does not work well for mixed usage in any case.

• A three way protected intersection would fit in best, and provide the most effective and safe means of traffic and pedestrian flow.