232807

West Kelowna  

Caught in closed park

Alanna Kelly

UPDATE: 2:30 p.m.

The City of West Kelowna has not issued any fines for people illegally accessing closed parks, but won't hesitate if people are caught.

"We are doing routine patrols and we have extra support to patrol our parks," said Kirsten Jones, Communications Supervisor at City of West Kelowna.

The extreme fire hazard rating was the reason Eain Lamont Park closed.

"We take into account it is a forest area, is it really dry and are we near interface with homes," she said. "This park particularly was closed because of the high fire risk.”

Jones added there are other parks people can visit and they will implement a fine if they catch people in the area.

"We can’t be everywhere, at every entrance, at all times so we do rely on people calling us in to let us know when people are accessing inappropriately."


ORIGINAL: 11:15 a.m.

Almost a week after several Okanagan parks have been closed due to fire danger, people are ignoring posted closure signs.

A resident living in view of Eain Lamont Park on West Kelowna's Mount Boucherie has spotted several people walking by 'Danger, Keep Out' signs posted on trails there.

“There were two cars with three people that pulled up to the closed gate (on Friday),” said the resident.

“One was preparing a backpack and another one was smoking! I yelled down to them that the trails were closed and waited until they left.”

The resident called the West Kelowna Bylaw office and was told it's difficult to control, but that they would send an officer over.

Castanet contacted the City of West Kelowna and is awaiting a response.

Anyone found inside a closed regional park could face a fine of $500.

The following parks remain closed:

    •    Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park.
    •    Coldham Regional Park
    •    Glen Canyon Regional Park
    •    Kalamoir Regional Park
    •    Rose Valley Regional Park
    •    Rose Valley Trail access – McDougall Road
    •    Stephens Coyote Regional Park
    •    Scenic Canyon Regional Park
    •    Mission Creek Greenway (Phase 2)
    •    Mt. Boucherie Trails – including Boucherie Rush and Boucherie Grind
    •    Eain Lamont Park – Lakeview Cove Road
    •    Casa Palmero Park and Walkway – Casa Palmero Drive
    •    Davidson Creek Park  - Shannon Woods Drive
    •    Shannon Way Park – Shannon Way
    •    Rock Ridge Park – Griffiths Place
    •    Wild Horse Park – Wild Horse Drive



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