Having spent a lot of time in Kelowna in the last 5 years, there are undoubtedly a bunch of beautiful areas.
I don't notice any garbage. Like if we are talking street garbage in populated areas I call BS. It is no different than Calgary.
There are definitely some ugly areas though. Huge sections of highway 97 around and thru Kelowna seems ugly to me with all the industrial areas and crappy used car places and old junky stores. This continues onto the west side and into peachland around where that boarded up gas station is.
The way that Kelowna is so spread out, I find you see a fair amount of dumpy acreages when you drive around On the "back roads".
Downtown is quite nice nowadays but you don't have to go far from Berrard to find some ghetto areas. The area around the mill and that sunkist? factory by Ellis? is being upgraded, by the new police station iirc, but it needs some work. On the opposite side of downtown, there are some sketchy side streets once you pass earls. Sorry not good on my directions or streets.
However when I hear horror stories of needles galore in the parks I laugh because that whole walkway from around the 97 bridge all the way past the Delta is now quite clean and pretty. Maybe 10 years ago but it is quite pristine now. My family has been there 5 years and we'd heard stories but we've never seen that stuff.
I've been to Penticton and Vernon less frequently but they also seem fine. I've been along that beach stretch in Penticton numerous times and it seemed quite pedestrian friendly and clean. I've been to the arena numerous times too for the young stars tourney.
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