More park for Gabriola – Hugh Skinner, President of GaLTT, high fives Vanessa Craig, RDN Director for Electoral Area B (Gabriola, Mudge, Decourcy) celebrating the purchase of the Wilkinson Woods off South Road. Derek Kilbourn photo
Sounder News
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) announced last week it had purchased the 78-acre (31.5 hectares) forested property, known locally as ‘Wilkinson Woods’ on Gabriola Island.
It’s the property accessed via the ‘yellow gate’ off South Road near Dogwood.
Located next to 707 Community Park, the RDN states the land purchase will expand the adjoining protected area and will provide recreational opportunities and emergency access to the park from South Road.
Vanessa Craig, Chair, Regional District of Nanaimo, “this addition to the 707 Community Park is an exciting opportunity for residents to expand their access to outdoor recreation areas on Gabriola Island and for the RDN to conserve an important natural area. Thank you to the Gabriola Lands & Trails Trust for their generous donation and to the landowner who worked with the RDN to ensure this beautiful property, which has both recreation and conservation values, remains permanently intact.”
Hugh Skinner, President, Gabriola Land & Trails Trust said, “GaLTT has strongly supported this 78-acres purchase with a contribution of all of its Land Acquisition funds ($100,000). The acquisition expands the amount of contiguous protected area on Gabriola Island and secures legal public access to the 707 Park from South Road. Gabriola’s undisturbed ecosystems are quickly disappearing and becoming increasingly fragmented. Only 12% of Gabriola is currently protected. This investment significantly helps Gabriola to get closer to the Islands Trust average of 20%.”
The new portion of park as shown in the RDN map, in hatched green on the left side of the existing 707 Park. Coats Marsh Regional Park (bottom dark green) is not included within the acreage calculations for the 707. Map provided by the Regional District of Nanaimo
The RDN refers to the purchase as an addition to the 707 Community Park, bringing the park up to a total size of 1,137 acres (460.3 hectares).
The 707 Community Park is zoned as Passive Park.
Tom Osborne, General Manager for RDN Recreation and Parks, said the RDN will review the land further, how it aligns with the existing 707 Community Park lands, factor the lands into the EA B Rec (Gabriola) and Parks Master Plan development and staff will discuss the appropriate zoning with Island Trust Staff along with related density use matters.
The RDN states, “undisturbed ecosystems on Gabriola Island are disappearing and becoming fragmented, with only 12 per cent of the island currently protected.
“Very few large, undeveloped forested properties on Gabriola Island are available for parkland acquisition, making this addition to 707 Community Park particularly vital. The property has second-growth forest, some mature trees and several seasonal streams that help maintain good water quality in water courses further downstream.”
The purchase of the Wilkinson was funded through short-term borrowing of $750,000 by the RDN’s Electoral Area B Community Parks and Halls Service and a contribution from the Gabriola Lands & Trails Trust (GaLTT) of $100,000, for a total purchase of $850,000.
RDN staff say a tax receipt was provided to the landowner for the generous reduction in price of $483,000 based on the overall market value.
The cost to maintain this new addition is estimated at $8,000 per year.
According to the RDN, the existing 707 Community Park management plan as well as the Area B Parks Master Plan currently in development will provide direction on future uses.
For information on parks in the RDN, please visit rdn.bc.ca/parks-services.
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