Photo: Contributed

The City of West Kelowna is turning to the province for help in relocating the skate park adjacent to the Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre.

The park, just to the north of the aquatic centre, will eventually be ripped up as part of construction for city hall.

The city has submitted a non-farm use application to the Agricultural Land Commission to relocate the skate park to a portion of ALR lands within Memorial Park, situated below the aquatic centre.

Much of the land in question is currently used as a parking lot. There is also road access to Memorial Park field for events such as Westside Daze and Music in the Park.

West Kelowna CAO Paul Gipps says that access will be maintained.

"Although we are at concept stage, and accessibility details will be finalized as part of the preliminary design phase coming up in the spring, maintaining proper access to the site for events such as Westside Daze, Music in the Park and the whole of the community will be an absolute priority," said Gipps.

The non-farm use would allow the city to use the 1.2 acre parcel of land for a new skate park plus ancillary uses such as a parking lot.

As part of the application process, city council must give its approval before it can be forwarded to the ALC for consideration.

Construction of the new two-storey, 45,000 square foot city hall is expected to begin later this summer, with completion sometime near the end of 2022.

The current skate park was built in 2016 at a cost of approximately $400,000.