Draft design/City of Kelowna

By Vernon Matters Staff

Big project

Kelowna breaks ground on $242 million Parkinson Recreation Centre

Apr 30, 2025 | 8:56 AM

Construction officially begins Wednesday on Kelowna’s most ambitious public infrastructure project to date, a $242 million rebuild of the Parkinson Recreation Centre that city officials say will reshape how residents connect through sport, wellness and community.

Located beside the Apple Bowl, the new facility is slated to open in 2027. It will remain operational throughout construction, with the existing centre staying open until the new one is complete. Once transitioned, the old facility will be demolished to make room for new outdoor sports fields.

Mayor Tom Dyas said the project marks a major step in addressing the needs of a rapidly growing and diversifying city.

“This is a cornerstone of our Building a Stronger Kelowna initiative,” Dyas said in a statement. “The redeveloped Parkinson Recreation Centre will be the most ambitious and transformative facility in our city’s history.”

According to the city, the new facility will offer five times more athletic space, 2.5 times more aquatic space, and triple the number of programs it can accommodate.

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The project includes space for swimming, fitness, community gatherings and sport tournaments, as well as features like dedicated childcare, food services, and a branch of the Okanagan Regional Library. It is being designed as a multi-use hub that can serve residents of all ages and bring in visitors for events and competitions, with economic spin-offs expected for the wider community.

“For more than a decade, this redevelopment has been identified as a critical need,” Dyas said. “Council is making major, strategic investments to build a stronger Kelowna for generations to come.”

The new recreation centre is part of a broader infrastructure vision that includes additional activity hubs planned for the Mission, Glenmore and Rutland neighbourhoods.