Kamloops city staff are gathering feedback for long-term upgrades of boat launches in the Tournament Capital.

Civic facilities manager Jeff Putnam says a report is expected to go to council before the end of October.

He says emergency repairs were done earlier this year.

“The city had to invest approximately $80,000 dollars this spring to do some basic repairs, just to make sure people could operate them safely… The high water really does a lot of damage,” Putnam says.

“There’s definitely going to be some discussion at council if the suggested improvements have a large dollar figure attached to them, but it’s too early to say what those numbers might look like at this point. It’s not just a ramp into water, you’re dealing with proper signage, egress, parking areas. There’s a whole bunch of correlated issues.”

The city operates boat launches in MacArthur Island, in Pioneer Park and on Thompson Drive in Valleyview. Putnam says it’s fair to say all three launches will require significant investment to bring them up to a proper standard.

He points out people make a big investment in their boats who use those launches, and also says they have been popular for people who are kayaking, canoeing, tubing, paddle-boarding and doing other non-motorized activities.