Parks & Greenspace Plan

October 2010 updates:

Introduction

The Powell River Regional District (PRRD) has a wealth of diverse and unique ecosystems, recreational opportunities and great natural beauty. Increasing demands on natural resources, concern for future needs and changes to development and settlement patterns all prompted the Regional Board to develop a parks and greenspace plan (Plan) in order to promote regional sustainability from an environmental, social and economic perspective.
The Regional Board received the draft Parks & Greenspace Plan at its August 26 meeting and the Board has directed that the Plan be submitted for public review before final adoption. This review will take place at the end of September or early October. Please check this website, the local papers and your mailbox for announcements about the dates and times of these public events

Background

The overall goal of the Plan has been to provide a strategy for creating a parks and greenspace system that addresses the long-term needs and interest of the region and its rural communities. The specific objectives included:
  • Protecting areas of significant ecological value
  • Ensuring the future generations have public areas for passive and active recreation
  • Preserving and enhancing the region’s scenic qualities
  • Developing a strategy to acquire parks and green spaces
The planning process, which has been underway for the last year, has been led by the consulting firm, HB Lanarc. Information about significant ecological values was provided by the public, advisory committee members and Madrone Environmental Services.

Community participation has been key to developing the draft Plan. This participation has included an advisory committee of local residents appointed by the Regional Board, workshops, surveys and on-line material. Workshops were held last winter and early spring in all areas of the region. At these workshops, the consultants presented information on park planning and participants commented on opportunities and challenges related to a parks plan and identified sites of interest on a map. Surveys were mailed to all households in the region and a map and survey tool were also posted on the RD’s website. Feedback from the workshops and the surveys is available on this website (see below).

Documents

The following documents are available for review by clicking the links below:

For more information or to comment on the draft Plan, please contact:

Don Turner, PRRD Regional Planner, planning@powellriverrd.bc.ca or (604) 483-3231

Andrea Tower, HB Lanarc,andrea.tower@hblanarc.ca or (604) 688-9769 x 104