Claudia Culley
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder
The Regional District of Nanaimo’s Electoral Area (EA) B parks and recreation draft master plan, which outlines recreation services to be implemented in Gabriola, Mudge and DeCourcy Islands over the next 10 years, is now available for public viewing on the RDN’s website at https://www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/ea-b-rpmp
The plan outlines priorities and needs for recreation and parks and trails on Gabriola based on research and feedback from EA B residents collected through open house events, a survey and other public engagement activities hosted by the RDN.
Identified community priorities for recreation include increased multi-use program space and fitness and wellness activities, enhanced arts and cultural program spaces, improved sports fields and more opportunities for people of all ages to be physically and socially active.
In terms of priorities for parks and trails, the RDN identified the need to conserve high-value lands and ecosystems, increase access for barrier-facing residents to visit parks and trails and improve water access and ensure support amenities are usable and safe. The plan also prioritizes providing well-managed and diverse trail experiences and addressing connectivity and amenity gaps in trails and transportation.
To put these priorities into action, the RDN has developed four recreation and four parks and trails strategies with associated actions.
The first recreation strategy is to optimize recreation service delivery through continued collaboration and capacity development. The RDN has and will continue to collaborate with the Gabriola Recreation Society (GRS) to provide services on the island.
The plan indicates a need for the GRS to continuing evolving their services to meet community needs, which the RDN will work to support by providing guidance and additional capacity building resources. The RDN will also monitor trends and recreational opportunity demand to implement this strategy.
Exploring the viability of developing a multi-purpose community centre on Gabriola is the second recreation strategy. Access to indoor multi-use programming space is limited on Gabriola, and the RDN found that 48 per cent of resident survey respondents regularly travel to meet social activity needs.
The RDN plans to launch a feasibility study into developing a multi-purpose community centre that will consider amenity options, site options and costs among other explorations.
The third recreation strategy is to improve sport field experiences and opportunities. To do this, the RDN plans to investigate options to add more sport field capacity to meet community needs and work collaboratively to improve sport field bookings and allocations for policies and practices.
Increasing resident access to aquatic opportunities is the fourth recreation strategy, in which the RDN will consider creating an agreement with Gabriola’s private pool operator to secure more public access and explore opportunities to increase access to indoor aquatic facilities in Nanaimo for Gabriola residents. The RDN also plans to explore offering ocean-based aquatic programming to Gabriola residents and look at developing a pool facility in the long term.
In terms of parks and trails strategies, the RDN plans to prioritize the conservation and protection of high-value ecosystems and culturally sensitive sites. Do to this, it will work with the Snuneymuxw First Nation, Islands Trust and senior governments to identify sensitive parks, trails and water access areas for future planning and protection.
It will also build the conversation network through strategic land acquisitions.
The second parks and trails strategy aims to formalize, expand and enhance the network of water access sites by undertaking a water access needs assessment. The results of this assessment and its recommendations will guide the RDN in making priorities for water access infrastructure and management.
Optimizing park experiences on Gabriola through planning and maintenance is the third strategy, which the RDN plans to put into action by developing a new management plan for the Cox Community Park to help balance recreation, amenities and conservation objectives.
It will also update Cox’s existing 707 community park management plan, which hasn’t changed since 2010, and identify priorities for park accessibility investments and initiatives.
The RDN will also evaluate maintenance and capital asset replacement requirements to make sure there is enough funding for a sustainable, well-maintained parks and trails system as well as study dog park management options for Gabriola to put the third strategy into action.
The last parks and trails strategy is to secure, connect and diversify the trail network. To make this happen, the RDN plans to work towards creating a well-connected trail network that provides safe and direct routes between key destinations, focusing on linking the ferry terminal and Drumbeg Provincial Park.
The final draft of the EA B parks and recreation draft master plan will be presented to the RDN electoral area service committee and RDN board this September for approval and anticipated project completion.
To learn more about the draft plan, visit the RDN’s “Get Involved” webpage at www.getinvolved.rdn.ca
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