Financing is still the top topic in the parks plan, but a list of priorities presented to North Saanich council will help in the discussion.
Members of the Parks Commission presented council with a list of six prioritized projects and a series of smaller community projects.
With current parks funding it would take many years, explained commission member Farrell Boyce, but they felt the community would benefit immediately so they created a five-year rather than 25-year plan.
The top project outlined is cycle lanes on West Saanich Road along Patricia Bay.
“That is very strongly supported by the community,” Boyce said. “Because it’s a very scenic section of the road it’s very well used by tourist cyclists too.”
Protected lanes for cyclists would complete the primary network of safe cycling routes on arterial roads as proposed in the 2008 North Saanich Cycling Plan.
“We anticipate this project will have to proceed in stages,” Boyce said. They outlined four sections, also with priorities, subject to negotiations and funding.
“Public consultation reveals strong interest in creating cross-Peninsula cycle lanes on McTavish and Willingdon roads and on Lands End Road. These additions are not considered in the five year plan,” Boyce said.
The second prioritized project is access to John Dean Provincial Park, made difficult after the closure of Dunsmuir Lodge.
It was generally accepted that people could use the overflow parking to access the trails, Boyce told council. Now park-users are leaving vehicles up and down Carmanah Terrace to access John Dean trails. “It’s one of the best rambling opportunities for miles around. We need to have good access to it,” Boyce said. “One solution we can see would be to buy the parking lot.”
The commission noted that potential partners in the initiative would be provincial government, CRD and the three Peninsula municipalities.
“A lot of preliminary negotiation would have to take place,” Boyce said. “This is a project that would certainly cost more than $100,000 if we had to pay for it ourselves.”
Scoter Trail, with one newly revamped section completed last year, is number three on the list.
“This is the most beautiful trail in all of the district, heavily used,” Boyce said. A 150 to 200-metre section is closed and if repaired, would extend the trail to its full length.
The fourth item on the list would see the creation of a new park. The district has identified a Bazan Bay property, as a potential park. Commission members see it as a complement to Cy Hampson Park. The more treed Bazan Bay land would provide a less canine-friendly atmosphere, and a more tranquil, waterfront park and picnic area.
The fifth prioritized large project is reopening the Downey Road beach access that is currently deemed a viewpoint.
“Opening this beach would restore public access to a sheltered, gently sloping and sandy beach particularly suitable for young children,” Boyce said.
“Reconstruction of stairs to the beach must await the rebuilding of the totally inadequate storm drain from Madrona Drive to the beach,” said the written portion of the commission report. “Engineering studies have been completed earlier recommending a rubble-filled drainage channel down the bluff. Public access to the beach aside, the rebuilding of the storm drain should be a district priority.”
The Wain Park tennis courts rounded out the list at number six, though there appeared to be little interest during public input, Boyce noted.
“We thought this would be a popular project,” he said. “Perhaps we were asking the wrong people.”
The commission felt the cost to repair or rebuild and the level of public interest should be more fully assessed before any decision could be made about the tennis courts.
Neighbourhood projects outlined included signage around the community alerting drivers of cyclists, signing and creating beach accesses/viewpoints around the municipality and creating more connecting trails.
Councillor Peter Chandler noted that the projects appeared to be a mix of maintenance-type work and capital projects.
“In some sense this strikes me as an operations and maintenance type of expenditure,” Chandler said. “In my opinion, when we’re looking at infrastructure and this is parks infrastructure … that’s something we as a council have to find funding to do.”
Capital projects would be funded differently.
“I know we do have reserve accounts,” he said noting properties sold on Texada Terrace were earmarked for a park that didn’t happen. “I would like to see that money put into effect, not just sitting there … We have the financial resources to do some of these projects.”
Municipal staff are working on a report for council that outlines the financial aspects.
“Looking at the plan … we need a meeting dedicated to discussion of the parks plan itself, and we need the financial information and staff information that we don’t have yet,” mayor Alice Finall said. “We really have to assess it and we have to set priorities.”
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com