Astronomy buffs visit East Wellington Park to view the night sky.
Nature lovers walk along trails to see the park’s many birds and other animal species, such as the northern red-legged frog, deemed a species at risk. Coho salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout are among swimmers in the Millstone River, forming the southwest boundary of the 29.7-acre (12.7- hectare) city park. Dog owners use it as an off-leash area.
The land is mainly a field with a history of agricultural use and is currently used for hay. It has been owned by Nanaimo since 2014 following a land exchange with two property owners which led to expanding a greenway.
When the rains come, the site floods. A large chunk of the site is now underwater.
The park is within B.C.’s agricultural land reserve and is considered an environmentally sensitive area.
Nanaimo is now presenting a draft management and action plan describing a multi-use proposal, developed with the input of citizens.
An open house on the draft plan is set for Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cavallotti Lodge, 2060 East Wellington Rd. A walk through the park, at 2191 East Wellington Rd., follows at 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said Thursday: “It’s always ambitious when you are trying to please a whole range of existing and potential users. But having said that, it is a substantial property and I’m optimistic that it lends itself to a variety of users.”
Krog would like it to be a place where people interact.
Draft plan goals include:
• environmental conservation and habitat restoration and creation
• agriculture use
• encouraging education and research, with small-group educational activities
• accommodate dog-walking
• improve park access and amenities, including interpretive signs and wheelchair access to trails
Vancouver Island University’s horticulture program is located nearby and could lead to partnerships for agricultural production, said the report.
The Nanaimo Foodshare Society, dedicated to local food security, could expand farming work now carried out on an adjacent property.
The plan recommends working with other agencies and groups to support ecologically sensitive agriculture and to support research.
Coun. Don Bonner said: “Many of us are very interested in the agriculture part of it.”
The goal is to use the site as “a way of creating food, but also as a training area for people who are interested in farming, and just having a whole bunch of different people doing different things in what was generally a field at one time,” Bonner said.
The draft plan recommends building a raised multi-use trail above an existing sanitary sewer line. A looping trail/boardwalk could be build on the edge of the grass field outside the riparian buffer. Riparian refers to land on the banks of a river, which would be enhanced until the proposal.
It also suggests working with the Nanaimo Astronomy Society to seek designation as an urban star park through the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
Amenities could include a small viewing area, a decorative structure to block light from street lights, a concrete pad to support telescopes, seating and signs.
A fenced off-leash area for dogs is also proposed, Bonner said.
• To see the draft on the web, go to the City of Nanaimo website
• To comment via email, go to [email protected] or phone 250-755-7506 to speak to the parks and open space planner.
