(Photo credit: CFJC Today).

By Stephanie Swensrude

Riverside improvements

Dike, multi-use path project underway in Riverside Park

Feb 17, 2022 | 4:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — One of Kamloops’ most popular parks is getting a facelift.

Workers are constructing a permanent dike to prevent flooding at Riverside Park. In 2020, the City spent around $300,000 on temporary measures such as Hesco baskets, and it doesn’t want to have to do that again.

“It’s a heck of a lot cheaper when you’re doing it in advance, and less disruptive to the park than in the past when we’ve had to put the temporary measures out,” said Greg Wightman, Utilities Manager at the city.

The diking will protect wastewater piping that runs under the park that would be deluged in the event of a flood.

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“If that infrastructure became overwhelmed with flood waters… then we wouldn’t be able to pump sewer, [and] the whole east side of the town would have some real challenges,” said Wightman.

Once the dike is built, it will function as a greener, wider multi-use trail, much like the ones constructed on Rivers Trail and in Westsyde.

“We’re gonna have an improved, three-metre multiuse trail, instead of the metre[-wide] concrete sidewalk that the public sees now. All new lighting, retaining walls along the beach front, more accessible beach,” said Darren Crundwell, Capital Projects Manager at the city.

Crews are tackling the lowest part of the park first, from the parking lot to the pier.

Other upgrades to Riverside Park include a new concession building, upgraded washrooms and a brand-new spray park.

“Our suppliers are telling us it’ll probably be the coolest waterpark in Canada,” said Crundwell.

The flood mitigation work should be done by the spring freshet and the other upgrades are scheduled to be done by summer.