The cost of the planned Mission Creek playground has ballooned /RDCO

By Vernon Matters Staff

rising cost

New playground cost balloons to nearly $500,000

Apr 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM

Regional taxpayers are now in for almost half-a-million-dollars for the new Mission Creek playground in Kelowna.

That’s after the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) board approved an extra $150,00 for the venture.

The initial budget was around $175,000 but public feedback highlighted a lack of accessibility and inclusivity for kids of all abilities.

The revised plan to include specialized rubber surfacing has driven the estimated cost up by 56 per cent to about $480,000.

A report to the RDCO board said the updated design incorporates key accessibility upgrades such as pour-in-place rubber surfacing and more inclusive play structures, which have been met with overwhelmingly positive public feedback.

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To deliver an accessible playground with features the public has shared as vital, the revised budget estimate is now $479,290.47, the report said.

The revised design calls for specialized rubber surfacing to enable fair and equitable access to all children.