Parks & Greenspace Plan

Overview

The Powell River Regional District (PRRD) is developing a Regional District Parks and Greenspace Plan (Plan) with the assistance of a local advisory group.
Development of the Plan will be lead by HB Lanarc, a planning and design firm, in partnership with Alof!i Consultancy, a local consultancy firm, and Madrone Environmental Services.

The Plan will cover all of the PRRD including

  • City of Powell River;
  • Electoral Area A (Malaspina Peninsula, Lund, Savary Island, Hernando Island);
  • Electoral Area B (Paradise Valley, Myrtle Point);
  • Electoral Area C (Black Point to Saltery Bay);
  • Electoral Area D (Texada Island); and
  • Electoral Area E (Lasqueti Island).

Why a Parks and Greenspace Plan?

The overall goal of this project is to provide the foundation of a strategy for creating a parks and greenspace system that will address the long‐term needs and interests of the region as a whole and of its rural communities.

The project objectives are

  • To protect areas of significant ecological value
  • To ensure the availability of public areas for passive and active recreation for future generations
  • To preserve and enhance the Region’s aesthetic [scenic] qualities for the enjoyment of the local and visiting public
  • To develop a parks and greenspace acquisition strategy

Parks & Greenspace Plan

The PRRD presently has four active regional parks: two day use parks and two
large parks with seasonal campgrounds surrounded by wooded areas. The PRRD also
has a passive foreshore park, plus some community recreation facilities and sites, mainly on Texada Island.

The City of Powell River has a comprehensive system of parks which include greenspaces, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds and a major waterfront park/campsite.

Our region also has three provincial marine parks, approximately ten land-based provincial parks and protected areas, some campsites previously managed by the Ministry of Forests and a myriad of walking/hiking trails including the Sunshine Coast Trail.

Public Consultation

We are asking the residents of the PRRD to help us understand the parks and greenspace in this region.
  • What areas should be protected for future generations?
  • Where are your favourite trails or natural features?
  • Are there problems today that the Plan can help to resolve in the future?

Upcoming Events:

The next round of public consultation will be held in the fall of 2010, providing residents of the Powell River Regional District with an opportunity to review the proposed recommendations in the draft plan. The dates and locations of the events will be posted on this webpage in September 2010.

Public Workshops

Thanks to those who participated in a public workshop in Powell River, Lund, South of town or on Texada Island between January 18 and January 21, 2010. Participants were asked to offer their thoughts on the opportunities and challenges that the Plan should address and to mark sites of interest on a map of the Regional District.

Click here to view the public workshop presentation.
Click here to review the input provided by participants.
Click here to review the input provided by participants at the Lasqueti Island workshop.

Stakeholder Workshops

Representatives from government agencies, community organizations, industry and First Nations were invited to attend a workshop on parks and greenspaces. Participants were asked to offer their thoughts on the opportunities and challenges that the Plan should address and to mark sites of interest on a map of the Regional District.

Click here to review the input provided by stakeholders.


ONLINE SURVEY & ONLINE MAPPING TOOL

Click here to view the results of the online survey. The Regional District Parks and Greenspace survey obtained a broad sample of community values, desires and concerns with respect to areas or lands in our region that people think are important and want to see protected. The survey was offered to residents online and in a household mail-out. The survey closed on March 15, 2010 and was completed by approximately 500 Powell River Regional District residents.

For more information about the Regional District Parks & Greenspace Plan contact:

Don Turner, Regional Planner PRRD
planning@powellriverrd.bc.ca
(604) 483-3231
or
Andrea Tower
HB Lanarc
andrea.tower@hblanarc.ca
(604) 688-9769 x104