Kelowna Springs is more than a golf course. It protects the surrounding agricultural land, it doesn’t use muncicipal water, it represents 106 acres (43 hectares) of green space and wildlife habitat, it provides flood protection to downstream infrastructure and the airport and runways, it is important for counteracting climate change, it is a walkable, affordable golf course used by residents and tourists alike, and it can be used by the public in the winter to stroll and perhaps for cross country skiing.

There has been a public hearing so the public has already spoken about its importance as a golf course and green space and the other environmental services it provides. One person, one developer has decided he wants to pave it over. Mayor Dyas said he would fight to save Kelowna Springs if he became mayor but he isn’t fighting. He says the public do not want the city to purchase it for a municipal golf course as it is too expensive at $30M to $35M when the city has just purchased a potential park of 1.8 ac of land for $18 M! The city has a new budget of $358 M for parks so part of that could be used to purchase Kelowna Springs. Shadow Ridge Golf Course has been purchased by the city to expand the airport, the Central Golf Course is now a Wallmart and Home Depot and the city has just purchased Michael Brooks Golf Course, another affordable, walkable golf course for baseball playing fields.

Kelowna doesn’t have a municpal golf course. This is a turnkey golf course which will provide city jobs and generate fees to cover operating costs as well as potentially providing funds for other recreational facilities. The city will pay millions for new flood protection and have to deal with extensive damage if this land is paved over. This will drive up taxes which will affect businesses, as well as, have a detrimental effect on tourism.

The only way to save Kelowna Springs is to write Mayor Dyas at: tdyas@kelowna.ca or call him or speak to your group and ask those members to write the mayor. Write to the city councillors as well. They need to hear from you.

Have a look at the poster below and copy it and put it in your office/business and put it on your facebook page or other media. There are hard copies of the posters available. Email: susanameskelowna@gmail.com if you want one or more of these. See some letters about this on the Kelowna Springs page which also includes at the bottom a detailed proposal submitted to the Mayor and Council.