It’s something most, if not all, Kelowna residents and visitors have done – ride to the top of Knox Mountain for panoramic views of the city and Okanagan Lake.
However, the city now has the idea of permanently closing Knox Mountain Drive to vehicles.
“Use has exploded in Knox Mountain, be it from COVID or the growth of the community … just walking has become a very popular activity,” said Melanie Steppuhn, Kelowna City Park Planner.
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As part of the Knox Mountain Management Plan update, last implemented 10 years ago, the city is seeking public feedback to determine if there is interest in closing vehicle doors year-round.
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“We want to find out how people use the part, what time of day they use the park and what they come for,” said Steppuhn.
“They all share the road so at this point, with the Knox Mountain Management Plan in place, we are starting the survey to talk about how to get to the park and that is the road in particular.”
The paved road to the top of Knox Mountain is 3.5 kilometers long.
According to the last city survey in 2019, around 700 cars drive to the first lookout point every day in the summer months. About 500 enter the second lookout point at the top.
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The road has been closed to vehicles since the pandemic began, but the road is usually closed in winter.
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Steppuhn said a year-round lockdown could help better cope with the growing number of users who share the road.
“Lots of different users and lots of people on a pretty narrow street that really wasn’t meant for that many users,” she said.
However, concerns have been expressed that a permanent road closure could block access to people with mobility problems.
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Steppuhn said the city is aware and is considering various options to ensure access for all.
“That would make people who are in a hurry, just want to go up one way, maybe they want to go down, maybe they want to go up, take the shuttle down,” she said.
“Maybe they are using the park for a wedding and don’t want to hike up and could use a shuttle … so it would definitely be important to consider a shuttle as an option for people with limited mobility.”
She also said the city could set specific times of the day when the park’s gates are open to vehicles.
“We propose an option with different travel times. So you want to use the vehicle in the afternoon? Is it better in the evening? Do you want it to last all day? ”She said.
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The deadline for submitting the online survey on a possible road closure is May 31st.
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