Nanaimo Council adopts plan for unique new park

Following years of expert analysis, community consultation and input from the Agriculture Land Commission (ALC), Beck said the adjusted vision features a simplified field trail.

“We’d love to see a raised trail that would be year-round and then we would have a soft surface trail that would create a loop.”

The soft surface trail would be available during the dry season near the Millstone River.

Flood resilient fencing is planned adjacent to the river in the wildlife rich park.

Other potential amenities in the East Wellington Park Plan: viewing platform, interpretive signage and parking improvements, which may require require an ALC non-farm use application to proceed.

Aerial view of 30 acre East Wellington Park, located west of Bowen Rd. (City of Nanaimo)

Prone to seasonal flooding, the raised trail and viewing platform would improve year-round park accessibility.

An original concept of an off-leash dog area was removed from the plan to preserve the environmentally sensitive area, Beck noted.

She said the park has several potential uses to benefit a wide range of people, including the rare ability to support agriculture production in partnership with community partners.

“…along with opportunities to improve fish and amphibian habitat, riparian restoration opportunities, providing community connection to nature — it also has excellent southern exposure, which I understand is important to star-gazers.”

An Urban Star Park designation from the Royal Astronomical Society for the park could be obtained in partnership with the Nanaimo Astronomy Society.

More information on the City’s East Wellington Park Plan can be found here.

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On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

Nanaimo Council adopts plan for unique new park

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