Nanaimo's Bowen Park is falling behind in the annual Greatest Places competition.
The city's 36-hectare park sits with labout 650 votes, while other public spaces in B.C. are well ahead, including Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver, with 7,230, and Botanical Beach in Juan de Fuca provincial park, with 3,068.
Bowen Park is competing against dozens of other public spaces across Canada to win the Greatest Places in Canada competition, hosted by the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Last year, downtown Nanaimo’s Commercial Street won the Best Street award in the competition, which provided not only bragging rights for the city but a golden marketing opportunity.
Bowen Park, located off Comox Road, just north of downtown, hosts activities of all kinds, from an outdoor pool, to disc golf, to trails which meander through the park’s forests.
The Millstone River side channel, rehabilitated by community groups five years ago, provides habitat for salmon, trout and other wildlife.
If Nanaimo residents come up short in the voting, the wilderness and amenities of the inner-city park might be enough to convince a panel of experts to help determine it a winner.
To vote, please visit www.cip-icu.ca/greatplaces/en/. Deadline is Feb. 29.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com