North Cowichan may consider adding another green space to its park inventory.
The municipality’s council chambers were full of people on March 11 during a special council meeting asking that North Cowichan purchase an approximately 10-acre long and narrow wooded property that is for sale and designate it as parkland. The property is adjacent to their neighbourhood along the west side of Donnay Drive.
Brenda Reid-Kuecks and a number of other residents from the area pointed out to council that the adjacent neighbourhoods to the property have only one small pocket park/playground available for their use, and about 30 years ago “adopted” the property for recreation and for the enjoyment of nature and it is widely used by the community.
“This small pocket of forested land is also home to many large cedar and fir trees and, as such, home to several species of wildlife and birds that are increasingly under pressure for land and resources,” the group told council.
“We understand that a motion from council in November has directed staff to prepare a report [on the issue]. We come before you requesting quick action on this matter before the land falls into private hands.”
The property consists of two parcels that were originally donated by the Sisters of St. Ann to the Providence Farm Housing Society, the charity that operates the therapeutic community at the farm, for the purpose of creating social housing.
But the housing project did not proceed and Providence Farm has decided to put it up for sale.
The land was first offered to Cowichan Tribes, but the First Nation declined.
The property is now listed on the MLS system, a database used by real estate brokers to share information about properties for sale, and the neighbours fear it will be bought for private uses and they will lose access to it.
Mayor Rob Douglas said he’s just one voice at the council table but he agreed with the delegation that the property would be an excellent park and protected space for the community and for residents in the area.
He acknowledged that many people use it as a recreational space and there is also an abundance of plant species and wildlife on the property.
“We’ve done some of our own analysis in the municipality as part of our biodiversity-protection policy and as part of that project, we did an assessment of the high-value ecological areas throughout the municipality and that very spot did show up as having high diversity values and also a critical wildlife habitat hub,” Douglas said.
“Also, our council has received many letters from members of the community about this issue. Our long standing practice with delegations is that we won’t make a decision during the same meeting, but we hear you loud and clear that this is a priority and I anticipate that we’ll be considering this issue in the future.”
