Nanaimo helps purchase $4.2M in land to connect local parks
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), along with the City of Nanaimo have come together to acquire a significant amount of land which will connect two popular parks.
A combined, 99.1 hectares between the city’s Westwood Lake Park and the RDN’s Mount Benson Regional Park have been acquired from Mosaic Forest Management.
In total, the purchase cost around $4.2 million.
With three parcels of land in total, the RDN purchased two of them for $2.96 million (78.9 hectares) and the City of Nanaimo bought the last parcel for $1.25 million (20.2 hectares).
The parkland expansion will give outdoor users permanent access to this popular recreational corridor which will take them from the shores of Westwood Lake right to the top of Mount Benson.
"It’s piecing the puzzle together quite nicely that allows for publicly-owned land for people to enjoy," said Tom Osborne, general manager of recreation and parks for the RDN.
For years there have been trail systems already linking the two parks together, but they were unofficial because the trails were on private forest lands.
"This legitimizes and authorizes proper usage in the forest and connects it too," said Osborne.
Trailhead maps at both park entrances are expected to be updated soon.
The plan is to use the existing trail infrastructure and install new signage along routes to help users navigate between the two parks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.