Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) electoral area directors gathered with Merville residents and Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT) representatives to celebrate the signing of a 99-year lease by the CVRD for parkland known as Tsolum River Commons.
The land was officially donated to the CVLT by residents of the Railway-River Avenue area of Electoral Area C earlier this year. The donors consist of 19 neighbouring property owners who have worked together to develop a community vision to keep the land as public greenspace, as well as provide input into direction of its management that respects the site’s history, current uses and eco-sensitivity. The CVRD will manage the parkland and the CVLT will monitor the park for wildlife preservation.
The land, which fronts River Avenue North, is 5.7 acres in size and includes 132 metres of river front with a small beach, 1.2 acres of open meadow and 4.5 acres of mixed deciduous and conifer forest with an understory of sword fern, dull Oregon grape and salal. The property provides habitat for many songbirds, fish and toads and is a wildlife corridor for black-tailed deer and black bear.
“The Tsolum River Commons parkland reflects considerable wildlife, recreation and community values. Many festivals and celebrations happen on this site which says a lot about future use as a community park and we are pleased how this is being preserved for use by current and future generations to come,” said Puntledge-Black Creek (Electoral Area C) Director Edwin Grieve.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
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Media Contact:
Doug DeMarzo, Manager of Parks
Tel: 250-334-6053