by Marla Temoin
The McLoughlin Gardens Society was pleased to welcome two guest speakers at the AGM on February 13. Attendees enjoyed informative presentations from the president of the Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT), Nick Page, and Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Parks Manager, Mark Harrison. The CVLT and the CVRD have been instrumental partners in the maintenance of the McLoughlin Gardens and the implementation of the creative residency program.
Nick described current projects and the ways in which the CVLT continues to evolve in vision and programming since its inception in 1999. To date, the CVLT has protected approximately 600 hectares (over 1400 acres!) of land and greenspace in the Comox Valley. Mark Harrison shared exciting news regarding the planning process for a new neighbour of the McLoughlin Gardens, Maris Nature Park. In 2022, the CVRD received a 40-acre land donation from Christopher Investments and an additional 4.5 acres was donated last year by Resolute North Holding Ltd. These lands, encompassing 44+ acres of mature second growth forest and including approximately 940m of oceanfront, are located right next to McLoughlin Nature Park and Eagles Greenway.
This new park is the result of two land donations through the federal Ecological Gifts Program. To qualify for the program, lands must be certified as ecologically sensitive, meaning they are important in terms of biodiversity and environmental heritage.
At this time, Maris Nature Park is not open to the public as the management planning process continues. Phase 1, consisting of background studies and ecological assessments, has been completed. Phase 2, public engagement and plan drafting, is in progress and will continue into the summer. Next winter should see the third and final phase, plan review and adoption, completed.
The McLoughlin Gardens are thrilled to welcome Maris Nature Park to the neighbourhood. Please stay tuned for more details about park progress and check the project page on the CVRD website for information about public engagement.