(This is the third column in a new series detailing of the best trails to explore city by city, and regional district by regional district, throughout the Southern Interior.)

The Regional District of Central Okanagan has some of the best trails in the Okanagan although you may find one thing puzzling.

Many newcomers will wonder why the City of Kelowna has more than 200 parks, beaches and green spaces, yet you will still find numerous regional district parks inside the city limits.

"Regional parks are paid for by all residents of the Central Okanagan and can be located anywhere within the region," explains Wayne Darlington, the regional district's manager of parks capital planning and asset management.

"Regional parks differ from municipal parks as the predominant purpose for regional parks is for passive recreation and conservation of larger natural spaces. Regional parks generally don’t provide sportsfields, playgrounds, etc. as a primary service.

"We do have limited numbers of each of these to support the regional community. Regional parks are typically the connection and larger natural area nodes that connect to municipal and/or provincial park systems."

In fact, the regional district has more than 2,100 hectares of parkland........

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