A 31.5-hectare forested area on Gabriola Island known to locals as Wilkinson Woods has been bought by the Regional District of Nanaimo and added to an adjacent park.
The purchase brings the amount of land added to 707 Community Park since 2018 to just over 171 hectares — making the total size 460.3 hectares.
707 Community Park is the regional district’s second-largest park. The name refers to its original size of 707 acres (286 hectares) when it was created in 2005. The name was intended to be temporary, but ended up being retained after an online poll.
The new park area will provide recreational opportunities and emergency access to the park from South Road, the RDN said.
“Gabriola’s undisturbed ecosystems are quickly disappearing and becoming increasingly fragmented,”said Hugh Skinner, president of Gabriola Land & Trails Trust, who noted that only 12 per cent of Gabriola is currently protected.
The additional parkland will help Gabriola get closer to the Islands Trust average of 20 per cent protected land, he said.
The RDN said there are very few large, undeveloped forested properties on Gabriola Island available for parkland acquisition, “making this addition to 707 Community Park particularly vital.”
The property includes second-growth forest, mature trees and several seasonal streams that help maintain water quality in other water courses, the RDN said.
Funding for the purchase came through short-term borrowing of $750,000 by the RDN’s Electoral Area B Community Parks and Halls Service and a $100,000 contribution from the Gabriola Lands & Trails Trust. The owner also reduced the price by $483,000 based on the overall market value.
The estimated cost to maintain the added parcel is $8,000 per year.
A public celebration of the addition is expected to be announced soon.
“Thank you to the Gabriola Lands & Trails Trust for their generous donation and to the landowner who worked with the RDN to ensure this beautiful property, which has both recreation and conservation values, remains permanently intact,” said RDN chair Vanessa Craig.
