An artist rendering of what the new-look main parking lot at Westwood Lake Park will look like. (City of Nanaimo)

By Ian Holmes

big change

Nanaimo Council narrows focus to upgrades at Westwood Lake Park

Mar 16, 2022 | 10:26 AM

NANAIMO — A final concept has been chosen to guide substantial upgrades at a popular Nanaimo park, starting with changes expected later this year.

City councillors unanimously endorsed phase one enhancements at Westwood Lake Park at a Wednesday, March 16 finance and committee meeting, which requires a formal endorsement at a future council meeting.

Vastly expanding parking in the often cramped main lot and improved safety for pedestrians followed an extensive public consultations process launched in 2021.

Thirty-six additional parking stalls in a newly configured main lot are anticipated, including additional accessible stalls and a loop moving traffic away from the busy first beach area.

The City’s parks and open space planner Kirsty MacDonald told councillors the site plan blends public engagement results with the City’s desire to reduce conflicts at the end of Westwood Rd.

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She said using the space where an old caretaker cottage to revamp the main parking lot can “reduce conflicts that we are noticing between pedestrians, cyclists and the general public that are coming in by car.”

An animated, overhead look of a new planned parking lot at the primary entrance to Westwood Lake Park, compared to the current satellite view. (City of Nanaimo/Google Earth)

Phase one of the upgrades focusing on the main parking area are budgeted at nearly $971,000.

The parking lot design is aimed at promoting slower traffic, an effort to be aided with raised pedestrian crossing areas.

Creating additional parking pushes the paved footprint back closer to neighbouring Leighton Rd., resulting in the loss of 35 insignificant trees, MacDonald said.

A sidewalk on Westwood Rd. and bike lane are hoped to be included in phase one, she noted.

Alternate view of the future new-look parking lot expected to be built later this year at Westwood Lake Park. Thirty six additional stalls would result in 95 total parking spots in the park’s main lot. (City of Nanaimo)

Improvements for phase two will take place at an undetermined future date, featuring expanding the beach area by 800 meters.

“We’re looking at including some universal access to the beach through this project, having more recreational amenities and really making it a gathering space in the community with picnic areas and additional seating,” MacDonald said.

Detailed designs and budgeting are still required for phase two, which councillors are expected to decide on as part of the 2023 budgeting process to take place later this year.

Amenities for future consideration at Westwood Lake include a new amenity building with universal washrooms, new playground and considering other amenities such as sand volleyball area.

Coun. Ian Thorpe said he’s excited about plans to enhance Westwood Lake Park.

“This is such a popular recreational area for citizens of Nanaimo and it’s overdue for some upgrades and improvements,” Thorpe said.

The City estimates more than 800 people use the trail surrounding Westwood Lake daily, while all three main access points to the park are heavily used.

Last May the City backed enhancing Westwood Lake Park, leading to a public consultation phase resulting feedback from 600 respondents and 30 stakeholder groups.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes