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UPDATE: May 30, 2:30 p.m.
The beach access at 900 Manhattan Drive, commonly known as Manhattan Point, is the latest closure with high water levels in the area. The beach access down the road at 842 Manhattan Drive remains open.
The following parks are closed until further notice due to flooding in the area or to protect flood measures in place:
· Manhattan Point Beach Access located at 900 Manhattan Drive
· City Park Waterpark
· Lake Avenue Beach Access including the pedestrian bridge
· Francis Avenue Beach Access
· Maude Roxby Bird Sanctuary
· Trail access from Okanagan Lake to Cascia Linear Park
The following parks remain open, but the associated beach areas are closed due to flooding in the area or to protect flood measures in place:
· Sutherland Park including the shoreline along Poplar Point Drive
· Tugboat Beach at Waterfront Park
· City Park
· Strathcona Park
· Kinsmen Park
· Rotary Beach Park
ORIGINAL STORY: May 30, 11:30 a.m.
With water levels continually rising in Okanagan Lake, two more boat launches have now been closed, according to the Regional District of the Central Okanagan.
The Okanagan Centre Safe Harbour Regional Park on Okanagan Centre Road West in Lake Country is now closed as the dock and launch were deemed unsafe to use. However, the protected harbour is open for boaters seeking shelter from harsh winds and weather.
The boat launch and dock at Fintry Community Park Access #1 at the end of Fintry Delta Road is also closed. Due to high water levels, the launch and dock are no longer accessible.
Killiney Beach Community park and its launch remain closed at this time, along with limited vehicle access through the park for waterfront properties on Evacuation Alert.
The Regional District has also closed the following parks until further notice:
*Glen Canyon Regional Park: from the Acorn bridge downstream to the Gellatly Road parking area and from the Constable Neil Bruce entrance upstream to the Covington Crescent entrance at Last Mountain Community Park
*Hardy Falls Regional Park
*Mill Creek Regional Park
The following link provides a list of the parks that are currently open for use: Pick A Park.
*Closures will also be listed in the above link under 'Public Notice.'
“Unfortunately, the decision to close these parks may impact some of our previously scheduled programs in the coming months," said Bruce Smith, communications officer for RDCO.
According to Smith, the parks staff is assessing whether or not certain programs will have to be closed that are listed in the Summer-Fall Parks Guide.
"Our staff will let people know about the status of any program affected by these closures when they inquire or register," said Smith.
As waters continue to rise, residents and visitors are reminded to expected increased flow in streams and creeks and are encouraged to keep a safe distance.
As Regional Park staff continue to monitor creek levels, they will also assess the bridges, trails and other park structures, to determine when they are safe to use.
Click on the links below for more information on the following:
Follow this story for status on your drinking water - Water quality in the Okanagan
Message for Boaters and lake areas to avoid
How the Okanagan water basin works
A bird's eye, helicopter view of the flooded areas in Kelowna
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