Oct 15, 2018 - Gabriola Islands 707 Community Park is Growing

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News Release     October 16, 2018 
         
Gabriola Island’s 707 Community Park is Growing 
 
At the September 27, 2018 meeting of the Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee, final readings   of 
Bylaws 289 and 290 were given, which will amend the Gabriola Official Community Plan and Land Use 
Bylaw and allow the transfer of 136 hectares of parkland adjacent to the 707 Community Park to the 
Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) in exchange for the creation of up to 25 lots on the properties 
between Cox Community Park and the Village Core.  
 
The new parkland is located between 707 Community Park and Coats Marsh Regional Park as shown in 
the map below. This parkland will increase the protected land inventory in the Gabriola Island Local 
Trust Area from 9.2 % to 11.5 %. With this transfer, 707 Community Park on Gabriola Island will increase 
from 707 acres to 1,043 acres,  providing increased ecological protection to Coats Marsh and important 
trail connections for the island. 
 
“It is exciting that the 707 Community Park, already the second largest park within the Regional District 
of Nanaimo’s parks system after Mount Arrowsmith Massif Regional Park, has grown to over 422 
hectares,”  said Electoral Area B Director Howard Houle. “Thank you to the organizations and residents 
who worked collaboratively to help grow the protected parkland on Gabriola Island and improve 
connectivity.” 
 
"The creation of parkland is one of the most gratifying ways for the Islands Trust to advance its preserve 
and protect mandate,” added Laura Busheikin, chair of the Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee. “This 
amenity will be enjoyed by Gabriolans and visitors for generations, and the long-term protection 
afforded to the ecosystem has immense value. On behalf of the Local Trust Committee,  I thank everyone 
who worked on making this happen. This is a great example of cooperation and thoughtful planning and 
we are excited to be part of it.” 
 
Until the 707 Community Park Management Plan is updated, the new parkland will be managed as an 
extension of the current park management plan.  In the short term, the RDN has set aside funding to 
provide basic park amenities such as signage and park access gates. For more information about RDN 
community parks and trails please visit: rdn.bc.ca/community-parks-and-trails
.  
 
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Contact:  Wendy Marshall    Laura Busheikin    
Manager, Parks Services   Chair 
Regional District of Nanaimo  Gabriola Islands Trust Committee 
250-248-3252       250-218-3216 
wmarshall@rdn.bc.ca   lbusheikin@islandstrust.bc.ca

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