When need drives innovation: Revitalized Summit Park reopens after reservoir expansion

Summit Park looks like any other park, but beneath its play area lies a reservoir that keeps Kelowna’s taps flowing and supplies critical water for firefighting.

“The park’s redesign was driven by two distinct community needs: expanding water capacity and creating a vibrant public space for all to enjoy,” said Patrick Aylard, Senior Project Manager.

 “This challenge sparked an innovative solution, a play area built on the roof of the reservoir, the first of its kind in Kelowna,” added Amy Nyhof, Project Technician for the park.   

Shaped by community input from a walkshop and survey, the revitalized park features a playground, embankment slide, walking path, table tennis, hopscotch, tic-tac-toe, and ample seating.

Below the surface, the reservoir’s capacity was increased by 2,000 cubic metres, bringing the total to 3,800 cubic metres (3.8 million litres) which will provide water to 2,400 homes and local businesses, an increase of 167 per cent, and increase water resources for firefighting.

A number of other changes were made to the reservoir to reduce operational hazards and maintenance costs.

Summit Park and Reservoir expansion reflects a thoughtful blend of sustainable growth, collaborative design, and community-first thinking, delivered with ingenuity and care.