West Kelowna Beautification

[RN 3]

Does anyone know of plans to make the approach to, and drive through, West Kelowna more appealing? Or any reason why this could not realistically be done?

I am referring to "baby steps" first of all...getting rid of all the overgrown weeds and garbage along Highway 97 on a regular basis. Then, perhaps consider walling off some of the industrial areas from view...check out most other Canadian cities...you will know what I'm talking about! Finally, in collaboration with other stakeholders, reduce the number of junky billboards and get rid of all the ones that refer to "New" or "Now Open"(which have been up for seven years or more).

Geographically, West Kelowna is stunning. It could be, without a lot of effort, be the most beautiful little city in Canada!

[prairieflower]

Until there is zero Native lands (which will be never), you will never get rid of the ugly, huge, eyesore billboards...Natives have to have their money makers. Just imagine if all of us who detest those signs were never to use the businesses that advertise there. Maybe then when they start losing business due to people boycotting because of their advertising, will they stop. One can wish :-)

[Steve-O]

Given the cost vs. the results, I'm surprised anyone bothers advertising on those boards.

[matai]

The Highway belongs to the province, West Kelowna have no say on it,

After all, didn't they just spent like $10M on the Grizzly Rd intersection earlier this spring?

About the billboards, even if they are on band land, are they not on the Highway right-of-way that we traded with the WFN?

ANyways, someone should take a chainsaw, chop them up, and make a huge fire with them for all to enjoy with smores.

And they should get rid of the 50 signs saying "Westbank" West Kelowna" etc and just keep the two illuminated ones at each end.... it only adds to the confusion to keep them all old ones.

Something they could start with is divert some traffic onto the beautifully renovated Gellatly Rd from Gorman's Mill to Boucherie using the word "Panoramic Drive" on the Highway... ya know, make it attractive for the tourists who have no clue what they're missing when staying on the stripe of desolation that we call - what a joke- "Highway" 97.

Ya know, at least the visitors could get lost in Glen Kenyon, or go nuts at the farm, or go for a swim in the lake at willow beach or cn warf then watch the birds in the Rotating trails then get drunk at a winery on a hill before driving to Kelowna, because I don't think they come here to shop at Wal mart eh.

[TreeGuy]

Does anyone know of plans to make the approach to, and drive through, West Kelowna more appealing? Or any reason why this could not realistically be done?

I am referring to "baby steps" first of all...getting rid of all the overgrown weeds and garbage along Highway 97 on a regular basis. Then, perhaps consider walling off some of the industrial areas from view...check out most other Canadian cities...you will know what I'm talking about! Finally, in collaboration with other stakeholders, reduce the number of junky billboards and get rid of all the ones that refer to "New" or "Now Open"(which have been up for seven years or more).

Geographically, West Kelowna is stunning. It could be, without a lot of effort, be the most beautiful little city in Canada!

You should check with the local Rotary group, they have groups that go out and pick up garbage along local roadways, maybe you would like to volunteer. Or look into the Adopt-A-Highway program, maybe you could adopt a section and take care of it like it is your very own! Like the guy in this video: (this clip is full of laughs)

[Joe Public]

Talk to Christy, she doesn't seem to have any problems spending tax dollars on West Kelowna to secure her seat.

[01066]

Does anyone know of plans to make the approach to, and drive through, West Kelowna more appealing? Or any reason why this could not realistically be done?

Yes, you could flatten it to the ground and let nature reclaim it. Thats one surefire way. You just can't polish ugly, no matter how hard you try. And Kelowna\'West Kelowna' is just one long endless strip mall of sprawl and blight. An endless caravan of gas-burning cars, noise and consumption. A heroic effort, and you might be able to make it slightly less ugly, but even that is pushing it. Throw a coat of fresh paint on it and few planters and call it 'beautiful'. Oh, and dont forget more 'free parking' for cars.

[WeatherWoman]

Greater Victoria use to have beautiful highways filled with wildflowers and plants and then the Gov't no longer wanted to pay for it and now we have dead grass & weeds and are more prone to grass fires along the highway.

[Joe Public]

You can't drop the BC corporate tax rate to 2.45% below the national average AND keep the highways well groomed, or even free of potholes for that matter. Simple choices that are made by corporations for us so we don't have to bother ourselves.

The quickest way to make down town better looking would be to get rid of the above ground hydro wires and move them all underground. Owned and operated by BC Hydro, whose board is stacked with BC Liberals, the MLA should have no problem directing BC Hydro to do that.

[Gilchy]

You can't drop the BC corporate tax rate to 2.45% below the national average AND keep the highways well groomed, or even free of potholes for that matter. Simple choices that are made by corporations for us so we don't have to bother ourselves.

The quickest way to make down town better looking would be to get rid of the above ground hydro wires and move them all underground. Owned and operated by BC Hydro, whose board is stacked with BC Liberals, the MLA should have no problem directing BC Hydro to do that.

While I would prefer the visuals of buried power lines, that would be a massive expense. Who is going to pay for it?

And once more, with feeling, businesses don't pay tax, people do.

[ohgeeze]

I know West Kelowna isn't part of Westbank, but Boucherie could use some beautification from the new WFN private beach to Pritchard Road or more, maybe some mowing of weeds...filling pot holes, draining the water sitting in the ditches instead of piling up dirt to stop it from overflowing and some sidewalks...just sayin.

[Whyme2]

It's all ugly on that side, that's why we choose kelowna.