Joni Mitchell sang about paving paradise and putting up a parking lot.
And for one group of concerned citizens, the same is about to happen near Munson Park Pond in Kelowna.
For 20 years, plans have called for Burtch Road to extend from Byrns Road down to K.L.O Road.
With a burgeoning population, the city is executing on those plans to alleviate traffic volumes on Gordon Drive and Benvoulin Road. Bike lanes will also be installed to help advance active transpiration corridors.
That new stretch of asphalt would run past Munson Park Pond, and avid users worry the new route will chase away wildlife and negatively impact the wetland.
“The noise pollution and the gas emissions and the runoff, it’ll adversely effect the animals, and soon it will poison the grass wetland and the pond,” Anita Lawry told AM1150.
The space is a red listed riparian zone, meaning there are endangered species that live there.
Lawry is a birder and launched a petition to stop the construction of the roadway.
She said many people, including nearby seniors, use the park as refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and worries the new road will ruin that.
Lawry called the road useless and said disturbing wetlands should be a non-starter in the face of climate change.
She and others are adamant they will stop the project.
“You put a stoplight at K.L.O, that’s going to backup through the wetlands, right by the pond,” Lawry said. “How can anyone say a road is more important than this riparian zone? It’s ludicrous.”
The City of Kelowna said Munson Pond is at least 100 metres away from the proposed road, meaning it will not impact the riparian area.
“Approvals were obtained through the Agricultural Land Commission, and the proposed road is planned to be built in City road right of way,” a statement read.
The city added it is “dedicated to protecting our natural environment, while addressing the priority infrastructure needs of our community.”
