Protecting the point

Giant boulders are being pushed and rolled into place at the point on the north end of Hot Sands Beach at City Park.

It’s part of Phase 2 of improvements to the park that will help prevent erosion along the foreshore.

“At the point, we have more erosion taking place. Obviously, there’s more exposure to the north with wave action from storms and boats,” said project manager Todd DeGruchy with Infrastructure Delivery at the City of Kelowna.

“So, there’s a little more protection work happening here, and the slope is a little steeper with the transition to the Cold Sands (Beach).”

He says some of the sand is being replaced with a river substrate cobble underneath the larger boulders that will act as a breakwater. “We do have existing willows growing out there, so it’s just bolstering that with rip-rap.”

The city has set aside $575,000 for the project. The contractor is Cabin Operations Ltd.

Once the work is done, planning will begin on Phase 3 of park improvements.

“Phase 3 continues on with the separated pathway through City Park, with continuation into Kerry Park and tie-in at Stuart Park,” said DeGruchy.

While some areas of the foreshore are fenced off, the public will continue to have access along the Waterfront Promenade pathway until work wraps up in December.