Concern over the appearance of selling off parks in Central Saanich sparked a change in tactic for the district’s master plan next set to come before council in the spring.
The latest public draft dated last fall, lists a handful of undeveloped, and in some cases hard to access, parks for potential sale. Galbraith, Seamount, Brentwood Heights, Fentress and an unnamed park behind 6238 Elizabeth Garden Court all have suggestions to consider divesting the parcel.
Based on public input Central Saanich is removing the park-specific actions relating to disposition. Instead, staff plan to include a general policy regarding disposition, including criteria about when this might be appropriate, but no specific actions.
There never was a plan to sell them, confirmed Jarret Matanowitsch, Central Saanich director of planning. But, based on public feedback on the latest wording, there will be a shift to a policy instead – where council should be open to divesting in order to invest in other parkland, akin to the policy that the district consider parkland purchases.
The wording was based on staff analysis that there was potential to consider selling them and using that to develop other parkland. Just last year Central Saanich purchased 19 acres with a plan to create 10 acres of parkland to expand Butterfield Park on Mount Newton X Road.
Work includes a trail that would complete a significant north/south connection adjacent to Stelly’s Secondary, from Keating X to Mount Newton X roads. That trail design is expected this year, Matanowitsch said.
Expected to come before Central Saanich council this spring, the next draft would include public feedback including targeted youth input. Staff went into classrooms to hear specifically what interested youth in elementary, middle and high school grades. The feedback mirrors a societal shift, with kids asking for fewer typical swings, slides and monkey bars and more wild play such as logs, climbing walls and zip lining.
Teens were looking for sporting opportunities – in particular volleyball courts and a bike pump track – Matanowitsch said, noting the district acknowledges a lack of infrastructure for that group in the community.
Education could be a key component when the draft comes back to Central Saanich council in the spring, with the public weighing in on how to address multi-user conflicts. There can be strife in a rural/urban interface where horses, bikes, runners, seniors, dogs and others all share parks and trails.
What staff overwhelmingly heard was, “Don’t make a lot of change, but educate,” Matanowitsch said.
Feedback suggested most people prefer signage to remind cyclists, horse riders, dog walkers and others to be respectful of each other.
Education in the realm of dog use on trails and parks, as well as considering a specific off-leash dog area will likely make an appearance. Current contenders for the proposal expected in spring include Adam Kerr Park and a portion of Centennial, for a more formal, fenced off-leash area.
