East Wellington Park features 30 acres of meadow-like wetland buffered by trees and the Millstone River. (City of Nanaimo)

By Ian Holmes

green space

City advances plans for East Wellington Park; wildlife viewing & raised trail among possibilities

Oct 29, 2019 | 7:22 AM

NANAIMO — Options are being narrowed on what a proposed new 30-acre park bordering the Millstone River will look like.

Council endorsed several draft concepts for East Wellington Park, setting the stage for a future open house, required approval from the Agricultural Land Commission and eventual adoption.

Parks and open space planner Madeline Koch told a City committee meeting Monday environmental conservation, agriculture production and some amenities could be included.

“This is a seasonally flooded site, so that does limit park access during a few of the winter months…the plan proposes to install a raised trail.”

Koch said seating, nature viewing areas, signage and garbage cans are also proposed for the wildlife-rich area accessed off East Wellington Rd.

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While the land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, Koch didn’t foresee any issues gaining non-farm use approval from provincial officials.

A fenced-in off-leash dog area and dedicated star-gazing site for the Nanaimo Astronomy Society are also listed among half a dozen potential future uses.

A June 2018 survey listed dog-walking as the most popular activity at the East Wellington Park site, located west of Westwood Rd. and just north of Cathers Lake.

The City envisions increasing the riparian buffer for the Millstone River, and potentially a new backchannel to support fish rearing habitiat.

Food growing opportunities with Nanaimo FoodShare and research initiatives undertaken by VIU are listed as interested parties.

The City’s environmental planner Rob Lawrance said the unique site can offer many local benefits.

“We see this as a great opportunity to work with the agricultural community on looking for opportunities to kind of mould agricultural practice and environmental restoration.”

The idea of allowing drones to use the undeveloped property were rejected by the City.

East Wellington Park was acquired by the City in 2014.

City staff is expected to report back to council with a final draft following an open house

Costing estimates will become clear as the planning process proceeds.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes