The District of Lake Country and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have signed an agreement for the transfer of ownership of Pelmewash Parkway.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had our share of challenging natural disasters and emergencies that have impacted many in our community lately,鈥� said Mayor James Baker.

鈥淏ut everyone agrees that the Pelmewash Parkway corridor will be a significant public asset which will really define Lake Country.

鈥淲e appreciate the support from (91大黄鸭-Lake Country MLA) Norm Letnick in helping us to work through the transfer agreement process with the province.鈥�

It was four years ago when the new alignment of Highway 97 was opened; and the district had since 2012 to get used to the name 鈥淧elmewash Parkway鈥� chosen by council from among the 160 unique names submitted for the old highway alignment along Wood Lake.

In November 2013, developed by a consulting team after a year of significant local public input.

The long anticipated transfer of ownership of the roadway will now happen next year.

鈥淐ouncil and staff have been working for quite a while to secure access to this corridor along Wood Lake and we are pleased that an agreement has now been signed and we can move on with the detail design phase,鈥� said Alberto De Feo, chief administrative officer.

鈥淚t will be great to see some of the community鈥檚 ideas given some real definition. Recreation opportunities and active transportation concepts like bike paths and walkways were key themes that emerged in the public consultation.

鈥淭he Pelmewash Parkway amenity will be a very good complement to the section of Okanagan Rail Trail corridor through our community.鈥�

Through Official Community Plan surveying it was determined that one of the highest community issues was to increase access points to the waterfront for public use and parkland (84.4 per cent of respondents).

鈥淭he initial work will involve roadway resurfacing and active transportation initiatives as the first phase of a multi-year project,鈥� added Matt Vader, strategic and support services manager for Lake Country.