Kelowna Parks Challenge – Trip #43
This week, as part of my Kelowna Parks Challenge, I explored the parks on Dilworth Mountain. A central feature of Kelowna, Dilworth is easily visible from the main highway running through the middle of the city, and the views from on top of it are incredible.
Read on for my impressions and reflections.
The Trip
For such a central feature of Kelowna, it might be surprising to learn Dilworth wasn’t subdivided and developed until the last few decades. Up until the 1970s, however, and the amalgamation of the modern city, it wasn’t really central to anywhere. Rather it was a wilderness space on the border between the municipality of Kelowna and the unincorporated communities of Glenmore, Ellison, and Rutland. A few homes on the mountain survive from those years, but most are much newer.
After amalgamation, Dilworth moved from the fringes to the middle of town, along with Orchard Park Mall to its south, which opened in 1971. There was a new centre of gravity in the area, and it wasn’t long before plans were being made to bring subdivision to the suddenly desirable slopes.
From what I can tell, the first subdivisions to be developed on Dilworth Mountain were on the lower slopes and terraces, in the late 1980s. Just as in Kettle Valley and Wilden, new areas were gradually opened, one-by-one, moving higher and higher. The last subdivision was finished in 2015, and city maps don’t show any further development planned.
Given the sloping nature of the terrain and the recent construction of the subdivisions, many conservation corridors were left between development phases. All of them together comprise Dilworth Mountain Park. Many, if not all, of the mountain’s various peaks are protected in the park and provide amazing views in every direction.
In addition to Dilworth Mountain Park, several neighbourhood and recreational parks were included in the mountain’s subdivision designs. Because I’m the barest smidgen behind the pace in my challenge, I decided to see them all in one week.
Dilworth Soccer Park
This neighbourhood amenity does what it says on the tin. It provides two smaller-sized soccer fields for the use of local teams, along with a small parking lot.
This park is not designed as a destination or neighbourhood park, and it doesn’t have any picnic tables, benches, or playgrounds.
Washrooms and Drinking Fountains: There is no drinking fountain in this park. There is a portable washroom in this park.
Dog Rules: Because it is mostly a sports field, dogs are not allowed in this park.
Cassiar Park
One of the older neighbourhood parks on the mountain, Cassiar Park comprises a narrow strip of grass along the side of Cassiar Crescent.
In addition to the playgrounds and picnic table, this park provides an excellent view to the east, over Ellison and Rutland.
Washrooms and Drinking Fountains: There is no drinking fountain in this park. There is no washroom in this park.
Dog Rules: Because it is mostly a playground, dogs are not allowed in this park.
Lillooet Park
More easily accessed off of Summit Drive, in the middle of the mountain, this community park has a few amenities for all of the neighbourhoods on Dilworth.
In addition to a large soccer field, there is a lacrosse box, a parking lot, and a lovely line of trees to picnic under.
Washrooms and Drinking Fountains: There is no drinking fountain in this park. There is a portable washroom in this park.
Dog Rules: Because it is mostly a sports field, dogs are not allowed in this park.
Summit Park
This charming park is a hidden escape for the residents of the mountain. Though its eastern half is taken up with a utility road and a booster station, the western half comprises a small field with a picnic table and a playground.
Since parking at the entrance to the chained-off utility road is not permitted, the easiest way to access this hidden hollow is to park on Lillooet and walk down through a pedestrian walkway across from Selkirk Drive.
Washrooms and Drinking Fountains: There is no drinking fountain in this park. There is no washroom in this park.
Dog Rules: Because it is mostly a playground, dogs are not allowed in this park.
Selkirk Park
This neighbourhood park is both the highest and the newest on the mountain. Its more modern design is evident in its division into three sections: a playground, a sunken basketball court, and a streetside entryscape.
In addition to these amenities, Selkirk Park also provides an amazing view of the entire Glenmore Valley as well as a trailhead giving access to Dilworth Mountain Park and the mountain’s highest peak.
Washrooms and Drinking Fountains: There is no drinking fountain in this park. There is no washroom in this park.
Dog Rules: Dogs are allowed on-leash in this park, because of the hiking trail access. Dogs are not allowed near the playground.
Dilworth Mountain Park
This park comprises all of the undeveloped tracts on the mountain, but the main part of the park is located in the southwest, off Chilcotin Drive. There you will find walking trails, a playground, and one of the best views in the city.
The rest of the park contains hiking trails that connect and surround the mountain’s various subdivisions. They will also take you to the top of several of the mountain’s peaks.
Washrooms and Drinking Fountains: There is no drinking fountain in this park. There is no washroom in this park.
Dog Rules: Dogs are allowed on-leash in this park, but they must stay on the trails. Dogs are not allowed near the playground.
Reflections
This adventure was eagerly anticipated. Since it is such a central feature in Kelowna, I had seen Dilworth Mountain from every angle during other trips I took for my challenge. I always found the cliffs on the southwest side, in particular, to be very impressive and photographed them often.
The experience of exploring the mountain was no disappointment, either. The views from all sides, looking back at places I had been earlier in the challenge, were especially rewarding. In my opinion, the views from Dilworth are some of the best in town. I think the view of the Glenmore Valley from Selkirk is the best I’ve found, and the view from the southwest bluff is possibly better than the view from Knox Mountain.
It was interesting, as usual, to explore another modern subdivision in the hills. With their winding streets, separated by forested conservation corridors, they are very different from the hundred-year-old blocks east of Downtown, or even the newer flatland subdivisions of Pandosy and Rutland. Nevertheless, once you get on a paved street between detached houses, where the woods and views are hidden, sense of place tends to evaporate and the ubiquitous sense of generic suburbia is felt no matter what lies beyond the buildings.
Conclusions
This week I saw six parks, which I needed to do in order to stay on pace with the Challenge. With the addition of these parks, I have now seen one hundred eighty-six parks from the Official List in three hundred thirty-three days, or 91.6% of the parks in 91.2% of the year. In other words, I have put myself ahead again, but only very slightly.
Another way to look at it, is that I have seventeen parks still to see and a month left in which to see them. I thought I might have some time to spare at the end of this challenge, but it no longer looks like that’s the case. It should be an exciting month, and I hope you follow along with my adventures!
