Nanaimo residents can share ideas for improvements to Linley Valley Park as the city shapes a plan for the urban green space.
The public input is an opportunity from the ground floor because there hasn’t been any major improvements since the lands were purchased, says Rob Lawrance, city parks and open space planner.
The City of Nanaimo spent $5.7 million on 71 hectares of land in Linley Valley in 2014, with plans to do public consulation on the parkland the following year. Lawrance said there was a decision about doing environmental assessments and he’s heard other priorities have come up over the course of the year, directing staff energy and attention elsewhere. But the city is trying to get back on track, he said, and Vancouver Island University is helping.
Nanaimo has also teamed up with VIU’s Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute on a public consultation strategy. Students in the community planning program will create a map of all trails in the park, as well as collect public input.
“Understanding of course this is a nature park, there’s certain things that we are not going to consider, but if we kind of want to see improvements on trail standards, on interpretive signing, on education facility opportunities, this is kind of a chance to have that conversation and maybe just confirmation about what people see and value about these lands,” said Lawrance. “We’ve heard a lot of people quite concerned about protecting these properties and the value of it as simple green space or as wildlife corridor and I think it’s important to kind of record and have those stories as part of what we do and complete as part of this park plan.”
The survey looks at how people use the park, priorities and opinions on improvements or additions, like a hard-surface trail, water fountains, benches and more picnic tables. Lawrance said the city is trying to understand the range of uses and make sure it can find opportunities to work on improvements that meet the needs of those users. A community workshop will happen at Oliver Woods Community Centre on Aug. 22.
The City of Nanaimo has also hired biologists to do a one-year study with a report expected this fall. It’s a new approach that will see an inventory taken of what’s in Linley Valley, the different types of ecosystems and recommendations for restoration opportunities that will help guide any improvements the city looks at.
The planning work will cost more than $100,000. For the survey, visit http://cnan.ca/2udPGcp.