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Westhills formally transfers 35 acres of parkland to Langford

The city has already built hiking and mountain biking trails over the past year on the parcel through a licence agreement with Westhills
Darron Kloster
Darron Kloster
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From left, Langford Coun. Kimberley Guiry, Mayor Scott Goodmanson, Calum Matthew, 4VI vice-president of sustainability and strategy, and Ryan Mackenzie, manager of Westhills Land Corp. on a trail that is part of 35 acres of additional land dedicated to the city by Westhills within the Gravity Zone and Nature Trails area. DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

The company behind the Westhills housing development in Langford formally transferred 35 acres of parkland to the city on Thursday.

Mayor Scott Goodmanson said the parcel of rocky bluffs and cedar, Douglas fir, Garry oak and arbutus forests adjacent to Mount Wells Regional Park — already threaded with bike and hiking trails — will be protected in perpetuity.

The 35 acres dedicated Thursday are part of Westhills Land Corp.’s rezoning requirement to dedicate 40% of its land base — more than 200 acres in total — as parkland to the city.

The land is part of the existing 130 acres within the Langford Gravity Zone and nature trails as well as the Jordie Lunn Bike Park, and brings the total parkland within the city to more than 2,300 acres.

The city has already built hiking and mountain biking trails over the past year on the 35-acre parcel through a licence agreement with Westhills, including the Wildcat trail, built with the support of a $150,000 grant from 4VI, Vancouver Island’s strategic tourism agency.

That trail is now officially part of the Gravity Zone and Nature Trails, with 12 completed trails offering users a mix of biking and hiking options. A volunteer-led team of trail builders is currently building a new trail and others are planned in the future.

Calum Matthews, vice-president of sustainability and strategy at 4VI, said further expansion of mountain biking trails in the Gravity Zone and Nature Trails will provide enormous benefit to residents and visitors. “With the principle of sustainable tourism in mind, Langford is creating a space that is accessible, welcoming and exciting for everyone,” said Matthews.

Ryan Mackenzie, manager of Westhills Land Corp., said the newest dedication is in addition to 32 acres of land known as Parkdale Hill that was provided to the city in 2021.

“These are the two largest undisturbed properties in the city’s entire parkland inventory,” said McKenzie.

Previous Westhills park dedications include 32 acres on Parkdale Hill, Goudy Field (three acres), Central Wetlands (five acres), Westhills Park and Playground (four acres), a portion of the Jordie Lunn Bike Park (three acres), a rain garden (two acres), and land along Parkdale Creek (one acre).

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