Fencing was recently put up around the Cathedral Grove parking lots to prevent people from entering the lush forest. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

park enforcement

Tourists still flocking to Cathedral Grove despite park closure

Jun 24, 2020 | 11:23 AM

NANAIMO — People can’t stay away from one of Vancouver Island’s premier attractions, despite it being closed due to COVID-19.

Approximately 80 warnings between May 15 and June 15 were given to people illegally parking or entering Cathedral Grove, within the much larger MacMillan Provincial Park along Hwy. 4.

A statement from the Ministry of Environment said park rangers have issued warnings but no $115 tickets as of yet.

“Park rangers have been using warning tickets to inform and educate the public about illegal parking and trespassing in the park. MacMillan Provincial Park, which houses Cathedral Grove, remains closed.”

Fences were recently installed closing off the parking lots at the popular tourist site. Fencing is joined by numerous signs posted at the many other entrances to the park.

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The ministry acknowledged the wide area covered by the park makes compliance with the closure difficult to enforce.

More than 500,000 people visit the park each year, featuring towering ancient Douglas Fir and Cedar trees.

“Due to the unique nature of the park, the trail system and boardwalks are very narrow making appropriate physical distancing extremely challenging,” the ministry said.

Handling the large influx of tourists is a continual issue at Cathedral Grove.

Before COVID-19, the province proposed expanding the parking lots as the easiest solution to congestion.

Throughout a lengthy public engagement process, reports show the public was overwhelmingly in favour of a raised pedestrian walkway over Hwy. 4 to curb collisions between cars and pedestrians.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt