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City of Nanaimo plans to pave parking lot at Neck Point Park

Accessibility upgrades expected to get underway in the spring

The City of Nanaimo saved a piece of paradise and now plans to pave its parking lot.

Plans for paving the Neck Point Park parking lot were presented to the accessibility and inclusiveness advisory committee at a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 8. 

“The paving of the Neck Point parking lot is a project that was recently added to our capital plan for 2025 implementation and supported by city council, who noted the popularity of this park and importance that we improve the accessibility,” said Darcie Osborne, director of parks, recreation and culture, at the meeting.

The heavily used parking lot is gravel and requires steady maintenance to deal with mud and potholes that form from weather and heavy traffic. 

Neck Point Park was established in 1996 after area residents formed the Neck Point Park Society to save the property from a 450-unit residential development and convinced the city and province to purchase and preserve 14.5 hectares of land. An additional 1.25ha of land was added to the park in 2009 and accessible washrooms opened in 2023. 

Peter Entwistle, parks project coordinator, reported that plans are to create 32 standard parking spaces, eight small-car spaces and three accessible spaces. Along with a paved parking lot surface, plans call to have the accessible parking stalls placed directly in front of the washrooms and a raised sidewalk on Deane Finlayson Way just before the parking lot entrance. 

Entwistle was looking for feedback from committee members about things that are important to park users, such as the most efficient placement of accessible parking stalls for visitors with accessibility needs and the best placement of a Mobi-Mat for beach access.  

Charlotte Davis, city deputy director of parks and natural areas, said in an e-mail that paving work and other upgrades the parking lot and adjacent areas is expected to start in the spring with a project budget of $287,000.

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Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
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