Master Plan - Sechelt document... · The West Sechelt Neighborhood Plan designates future park...

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Table of Contents .............................................................................. i-iv

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................. 1 – 5

1 Introduction .................................................................... 6

2 Existing Parks and Open Space Analysis 2.1 Introduction .....................................................................................7 2.2 Geographical Analysis ...................................................................7

2.2.1 Situation Analysis 2.2.2 Demographic Analysis

2.3 Community Consultation .............................................................11 2.3.1 Community Associations/Ratepayers 2.3.2 User Groups 2.3.3 Telephone survey 2.3.4 Paper Suggestion Form 2.3.5 Internet Suggestion Form 2.3.6 Public Meetings 2.3.7 Trail committee

2.4 Trends in Park and Open Space Use .........................................16 2.5 Demographics ...............................................................................17

2.5.1 District of Sechelt Population Statistics 2.5.2 Age Distribution by Neighbourhood

2.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................23

3 Parks Strategy .............................................................. 24 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................24 3.2 Park Classification System ..........................................................24

3.2.1 Neighbourhood Level 3.2.2 Community Level

3.3 Park Development Guidelines ....................................................27 3.3.1 Area Requirements

3.4 Inventory of Existing Parks .........................................................28 3.5 Evaluation of Park Facilities by Neighbourhood .......................30

3.5.1 West Sechelt 3.5.2 Village 3.5.3 West Porpoise Bay 3.5.4 East Porpoise Bay 3.5.5 Sandy Hook 3.5.6 Tuwanek 3.5.7 Selma Park 3.5.8 Davis Bay

Parks & Open Spaces Master Plan Table of Contents

Page i

3.6 Park Implementation Strategy .....................................................38 3.6.1 Development of Existing Parkland 3.6.1.1 Pacific View Park (West Sechelt) 3.6.1.2 Creekside Park (West Sechelt) 3.6.1.3 Wakefield Creek Park (West Sechelt) 3.6.1.4 Picadilly Park (West Sechelt) 3.6.1.5 Burnet Creek Park (Phase 1) (East Porpoise Bay) 3.6.1.6 Burnet Creek Park (Phase 2) (East Porpoise Bay) 3.6.1.7 Silverback 3.6.1.8 Kinnikinnick Park (West Porpoise Bay) 3.6.1.9 Hackett Park (Village) 3.6.1.10 Block 7 (Village) 3.6.1.11 Maritime Gateway Park 3.6.2 Future Park Acquisition and Development ........................45 3.6.2.1 Trail Bay Boulevard (Village) 3.6.2.2 Selma Park 3.6.2.3 Duck Pond (West Porpoise Bay)

3.6.2.4 Mission Point 3.6.2.5 Sangara 3.6.2.6 Wakefield Beach 3.6.2.7 Trail Bay Estates

3.6.2.8 The Trails 3.6.2.9 Concordia Homes (West Porpoise Bay) 3.6.2.10 The Ridge (Downtown Village)

3.7 Conclusion ...............................................................................47 3.8 Parkland Acquisition and Development Funding

Options .................................................................................... 48 3.8.1 Five Percent Dedication 3.8.2 Purchase 3.8.3 Negotiation 3.8.4 Crown Land Transfer or Purchase on Lease 3.8.5 Donation 3.8.6 Private Lease 3.8.7 Rights of Way and Statutory Right of Way 3.8.8 Partnerships 3.8.9 Development Cost Charges


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4 Trails and Greenways Strategy ............................. 51

4.1 Introduction ......................................................................... 51 4.2 Goals .................................................................................... 51 4.3 A “Greenways” Approach to Trails ................................... 54 4.4 Public Input ......................................................................... 54 4.5 Types of Trails and Greenways ......................................... 54

4.5.1 Multi-Use Trails 4.5.2 Pedestrian Easements and Walkways 4.5.3 Bicycle Commuter Lanes 4.5.4 Hiking Trails

4.6 Trail and Greenway Implementation ................................ 59 4.6.1 West Sechelt to Sechelt Connection 4.6.2 Wilson Creek to Village Connection 4.6.3 Sinku Drive 4.6.4 Wilson Creek to Selma Park Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Lane 4.6.5 Downtown Walking Path Village to East Porpoise Bay Trail 4.6.6 Village to East Porpoise Bay Trail 4.6.7 Meandering Trail 4.6.8 East Porpoise Bay Esplanade 4.6.9 Sechelt Inlet Road Bicycle Path (Sandy Hook) 4.6.10 Sechelt Heritage Forest Trail 4.6.11 Sandy Hook Cycling/Pedestrian Route (Porpoise Dr/Tillicum Bay Rd) 4.6.12 Sandy Hook to Tuwanek Connector Trail 4.6.13 Davis Brook Path 4.6.14 West Sechelt to Kinnikinnick Park 4.6.15 Downtown Village to Kinnikinnick Park Bicycle Path Connection 4.6.16 Chapman Creek Trail 4.6.17 Hidden Grove DL 3006 (Sandy Hook)

4.7 Signage ..........................................................................................66 4.7.1 Large General Signs 4.7.2 Directional and Trail Marker Signs 4.7.3 Bicycle Path Signage

4.8 Partners in Trail Development ....................................................68 4.9 Conclusion ....................................................................................68

5 Beach Access Strategy ............................................... 69


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Page iv

5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................69 5.2 Beach Access Inventory ..............................................................70 5.3 Priority Areas for Beach Access Development .........................72

5.3.1 Selma Park/Davis Bay/Wilson Creek 5.3.2 West Sechelt 5.3.3 Sandy Hook 5.3.4 West Porpoise Bay 5.3.5 East Porpoise Bay 5.3.6 Tuwanek 5.3.7 Village

5.4 Future Right of Way Dedication ..................................................77 5.5 Public Awareness .........................................................................77

5.5.1 Beach Access Brochure 5.5.2 Web .5.3 Signage 5.5.4 Parking

6 Partnerships ................................................................. 79

6.1 Introduction 6.2 Community groups 6.3 Conservation groups 6.4 Inter-Organization Cooperation 6.5 Adopt-a-Park, Trail or Beach Access 6.6 School District Volunteer Programs

Maps

Map 1. Neighbourhood Parks Distribution .............................................8 Map 2. Residential Areas Within 1 Km of Neighbourhood Parks ...........9 Map 3. Existing Park Distribution & Possible Future Designation per OCP ...................................................................29 Map 4. West Sechelt Existing & Future Parks .....................................30 Map 5. Downtown Village Existing and Future Parks ..........................31 Map 6. West Porpoise Bay Existing and Future Parks ........................32 Map 7 East Porpoise Bay Existing and Future Parks .........................34 Map 8 Sandy Hook Existing and Future Parks ...................................35 Map 9 Tuwanek Existing and Future Parks ........................................36 Map 10 Davis Bay, Selma Park and Wilson Creek Existing And Future Parks .....................................................................37 Map 11 Park Improvements ..................................................................43 Map 12 Downtown Parks and Walking Paths .......................................44 Map 13 Trail and Greenway Network ...................................................53 Map 14 Existing Beach Accesses and Future Beach Access Establishment ..........................................................................69

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES MASTER PLAN

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN In 2003, the District of Sechelt prepared a Parks and Open Space Master Plan as a summer student initiative. The Plan includes the following components:

• A demographic analysis; • A user survey; • An inventory and assessment of existing parks • An Inventory of trails and beach accesses, and • A recommended strategy for the development of parks, trails and beach

accesses. Since the completion of the draft Parks Plan, considerable subdivision has occurred resulting in parkland dedication being made by developers. In addition, improvements have been made to Kinnikinnick Park and Hackett Park, the District’s two primary sports fields. The purpose of this Executive Summary is to identify future park and trail development priorities and improvements that should be developed by the District’s Parks department or by local developers as a condition of land development. The Executive Summary does not reference the demographic analysis; the community consultation process including user interviews or a number of parks currently maintained by the District. (Picadilly, Creekside) These are detailed in the main report 1. Sports Fields With the completion of the new ball fields, Kinnickinick Park now has 4 ball fields. Kinn Park and Hackett Park should satisfy the requirements for fastball and soccer for the foreseeable future. In addition, the school fields at Davis Bay Elementary, Sechelt Elementary, West Sechelt Elementary and Piccadilly Park should meet the future demands for minor soccer and softball. The proposed Silverback development in East Porpoise Bay proposes a 2.8 ha site located at the south east corner of the intersection of Sechelt Inlet Road and the golf course access road to accommodate a community sports field and tennis courts. The Trails development offers approximately 15 ha of open space. The easterly portion adjacent to Woods Creek could accommodate a small community play field. Staff will negotiate this with the developer as condition of subdivision. The Havies Road subdivision (named Davis Lookout) includes a 1.13 ha site for a communal septic system and a .52 ha park dedication. Although the septic field has moderate slope it could serve as a field area for unstructured recreation activities.


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The West Sechelt Neighborhood Plan designates future park sites in DL 4302 and DL 1384. These District Lots fall within the West Sechelt Comprehensive Development Area. A requirement of land development is the preparation of a comprehensive development plan which will identify specific park requirements for this area. 2. Waterfront Parks The District and community organizations have accorded a high priority to waterfront parks and land acquisition for future waterfront parks. The Davis Bay waterfront is a major Sunshine Coast feature. The District has been aggressively pursuing waterfront properties at Mission Point to extend the Davis Bay public recreation area to Chapman Creek. The Maritime Gateway Park adjacent to the Trail Bay Pier will be a significant park focusing on the Trail Bay waterfront and connecting to the Boulevard and Snickett Park. The Urban Greenway Committee has examined access options to the Trail Bay Boulevard between Ocean Avenue and Inlet Avenue. The following land developments have offered parks which provide improved access to the waterfront. Sangara – DL 1384 A 30 lot subdivision facing Trail Bay includes the provision for a .25 ha park adjacent to the Sunshine Coast Highway with views of Trail Bay. As a condition of development the developer will construct a trail to a granite ledge on the waterfront. Wakefield Creek Phase 1 includes a .06 ha corridor from the Sunshine Coast Highway leading the Wakefield Beach waterfront and a walking path that the developer will construct. Phase 2 proposes a .02 ha park area adjacent to Mason Road and a water feature in Mason Road as well as the completion of the waterfront trail. The Silverback development in East Porpoise Bay includes a 1.1 ha linear park along the Porpoise Bay waterfront as well as a 3.2 ha park dedication in the Shannon Creek area. (The Silverback development also proposes blocks of open space at the upper elevations of the site) Maritime Gateway Park In 2006, Petro-Canada conveyed the remediated lots 15 and 16 to the District of Sechelt thus enabling the development of the Maritime Gateway Park, an initiative that has been under consideration since 2000. The Sunshine Coast Rotary Club proposes to develop a childrens adventure playground on lot 17 facing the waterfront. A concept plan has been prepared by District staff and the Rotary Club and includes the following components.


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• Deactivation of Snickett Boulevard and Wharf Road and construction of a new

connector to Xenichen Boulevard. • A parking lot, • Washrooms; • Beach volleyball courts • Improved access to the waterfront • Site landscaping • Tie up floats off the Trail Bay Pier

The completion of the Maritime Gateway Park will present a significant improvement to the Trail Bay waterfront and be a major contribution to Downtown Revitalization. West Porpoise Bay The Concordia Homes development at the north end of Gale Avenue dedicates a 1.8 ha natural park above Snake Bay as well as a 240 meter waterfront trail along Snake Bay. Poise Island Estates The Poise Island Estates subdivision included a small waterfront park dedication abutting Lot 24. The site is relatively steep bluff rising above Porpoise Bay. In addition a road right of way on the extension of Poise Island Drive extends from the road down to the waterfront. Although small, this area could be improved for water access. Blue Northern The Blue Northern Strata development on Marine Way immediately east of Mackenzie Marina includes two small waterfront park dedications on rock bluffs above Porpoise Bay. The developer will provide site improvements (view corridors, picnic benches) as a condition of development. 3. OCP Policies The Parks and Open Space section of the OCP includes wide ranging policies for Parks and Open Space. A stated Objective is the continued enhancement of public access to the waterfront. And the development of a comprehensive linear pedestrian oriented walkway and open space system which parallels the shoreline of the Strait of Georgia and Sechelt Inlet (incorporating view corridors, beach accesses and rest areas). A specific policy (2.12.17) includes the acquisition of linear pedestrian oriented walkways no less than 3 meters parallel to the Strait of Georgia and Porpoise Bay either through development approvals or purchase. It is important that Council and Administration support these policies through the development process in the future interests of the community.


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4. The Trails The Parks Plan identifies the importance of trails in linking neighborhoods and linking neighborhoods to the downtown core. The Plan talks of standards for trail development and a number of trails that should be developed either by the District or through the land development process. West Sechelt to Sechelt The OCP outlines a corridor that follows the SCRD waterline from Derby Road through to the Trail Bay Estates property (Clayton property adjacent to Chatelech High School). This trail traverses large undeveloped properties but should be dedicated as greenway and a trail constructed with the development of the Sangara and Clayton properties (DL 1385, 1384, 4295.A) Wilson Creek to Downtown Village The proposed upgrade to the Sunshine Coast Highway between the Conveyor Belt and Davis Bay includes the provision for a dedicated pedestrian/bike path. This feature will be fundamental to enhancing safe pedestrian and bicycle movement from the Davis Bay, Selma Park, Wilson Creek neighborhood into the downtown. The plan recommends that the District and the Band coordinate the development of a trail between the boat launch at the SIB marina along the shore to Sinku Boulevard, thus providing a dedicated trail system into downtown Sechelt. This could link to the future sidewalk system on the Sunshine Coast Highway upgrade. East Porpoise Bay Trail The Plan recommends the construction of a number of trails which could provide a major trail between Downtown and Sandy Hook. This network includes the following sections:

• A trail from Osprey Street (near the Duck Marsh) along the foreshore at the head of Porpoise Bay Sechelt Inlet Road.

• The Meandering Trail • Trail improvement along the waterfront esplanade between Allen Road and Yew

Road • A bike path from Marmot Drive into the Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, then north

to the Silverback development. • A bike path along Sechelt Inlet Road between Silverback and the Gray Creek

logging road. • Sandy Hook pedestrian/bike paths on Skookumchuck Road, Deerhorn Road,

Sandy Hook Road, Klahanie Drive to Tillicum Bay Road.


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Because of its length and complexity, this system will take considerable time and effort to develop. Chapman Creek Trails The Chapman Creek corridor contains several trails. The lower trail runs on the west bank between Brookman Park upstream approximately 3 km. This part of the trail is characterized by carved gnome figurines. An old tote road runs along the top of the bank from Chapman Road north to the BC Hydro line (approximately 4 km). The trail continues another 3 km to the Chapman Creek Falls. Tributary trails branch from the Chapman Creek trail to Selma Park road and join the Sunshine Coast Highway. The Chapman Creek system is a nature trail and well used by hikers, cyclists and dog walkers. Required improvements are minimal. Park dedication should be taken by the development of private lands. The District should apply for a Crown recreation reserve (UREP Reserve) on those Crown Land sections through which the Chapman Creek trails traverse. 5. Beach Access In 1994, the District undertook an inventory of beach accesses to the Georgia Strait and Porpoise Bay. These are incorporated in the Parks Master Plan, which identifies 76 Beach accesses. (improved and unimproved.) The Plan recommends a number of priorities for construction in the Selma Park area; West Sechelt, West Porpoise Bay, Sandy Hook, East Porpoise Bay and Tuwanek. The Parks staff should commit to the planning and construction of a beach access each fiscal year subject to demonstrated public demand. 6. Financial Resources In 2005 the District’s Park Acquisition fund stood at $938, 659. (This fund includes cash in lieu of parkland contribution.) The Parks DCC Fund had a balance of $266,410. 7. Conclusion The Parks Master Plan is an extensive document intended to guide the future development of Parks and Open Space amenities. This plan should be referred to the Greenway Committee for comments. Parks staff and Planning staff should review this Plan and prepare annual budget allocations for capital works.


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1.INTRODUCTION

The parks and open spaces within the District of Sechelt promote public health by encouraging physical fitness and a high quality of life for residents and visitors. In addition, parks and open spaces build a spirit of community, by creating central space for public gatherings. The District of Sechelt parks and open spaces offer a multitude of opportunities ranging from organized field activities to mountain biking to simply enjoying a day at the beach or taking a stroll along the waterfront. In the past, parks and open spaces have developed in the District of Sechelt without a strategic plan other than the general guidelines in the Official Community Plan. As a result, parks and open spaces in the District have not been developed to their full potential. Many parks remain undeveloped and new park dedications taken at the time of subdivision have been unsuitable for park development. Many neighbourhoods do not have adequate beach accesses and lack a trail system for safe walking and cycling. The Parks and Open Space Master Plan was initiated in 2003 to determine a strategy for future park and open space development. The Parks and Open Space Master Plan is divided into five main sections:

1. The Parks and Open Space Analysis outlines the methodology used to research and prepare the plan;

2. The Parks Strategy prioritizes the development of parks in the District including site-specific recommendations;

3. The Beach Access Strategy outlines the detailed plan for development of beach accesses throughout the District;

4. The Trails and Greenways Strategy details a plan for the development of Trails and Greenways in the District;

5. The Partnerships section outlines how the District can develop partnerships with organizations, groups and individuals that participate in developing Park and Open Spaces.


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2. Existing Parks and Open Space Analysis 2.1 Introduction An in-depth analysis of the District of Sechelt parks and open spaces was conducted in 2003 to identify deficiencies and locate optimum locations for future park and open space facilities. The analysis consists of the following:

• a geographical analysis; • a community consultation process; and • a demographics analysis.

2.2 Geographical Analysis A geographical analysis of the District was conducted to assess the distribution and quality and quantity of the current distribution of parks and open spaces and plan for future park locations. It is divided into a situational analysis, and a demographic analysis. 2.2.1 Situation Analysis An acceptable park and open space system should have a distribution of parks and open spaces within walking distance of all residents. A situation analysis relates the park location to the tributary residential area. (Map 1 shows the existing park distribution within the District and Official Community Plan future park acquisition locations. Map 2 shows developed and undeveloped beach accesses including locations where access to waterfront should be taken at the time of subdivision in accordance with the Land Title Act.)


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Situation Analysis of Neighbourhood Parks (Map I) A 500 m radius around District mini parks and a 1000 m radius around large neighbourhood parks was chosen as a catchment area for parks. Map I shows residential areas that are outside the above distances from a neighbourhood park facility. The areas that are currently most lacking neighborhood park facilities are Selma Park, the north side of Davis Bay, East Porpoise Bay, West Porpoise Bay and Tuwanek. These areas have no neighbourhood park space thus making them a candidate for the acquisition and development of parkland. 2.2.2 Demographic Analysis The population composition of neighbourhoods is outlined in Section 2.5 and shows a wide range of population densities in the District of Sechelt ranging from rural areas with large acreages to very small lot subdivisions. The downtown village area has the largest concentration of multi-family housing.


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2.3 Community Consultation An extensive community consultation process was undertaken to determine resident’s opinion on the adequacy of parks and open space. The consultation process consisted of: interviews with community associations/ratepayers and user groups, a telephone survey, a public questionnaire, a paper suggestion form, an internet suggestion form, public meetings, and participation in the District of Sechelt Trail Committee. 2.3.1 Community Associations/Ratepayers In order to gather information about each neighborhood in the District, meetings were arranged with local community associations and Ratepayers groups. Interviews were informal in nature and involved gathering general information on current and future needs for parks and open spaces. Initial contact with the associations was made by attending the “G8” general meeting. Interviews were held with the presidents of each association to gain specific information about individual neighborhoods. The following groups were contacted in the public consultation process:

• Davis Bay/Wilson Creek Community Association • East Porpoise Bay Ratepayer’s Association • West Porpoise Bay Community Association • Tuwanek Ratepayers’ Association • Sandy Hook Community Association • Sechelt Village Residents’ Association • Sunshine Heights Owners’ and Residents’ Association • West Sechelt Community Association

The following questions were used to guide each interview:

1. Are your current park needs being met by your neighborhood parks? 2. What new park and open space facilities do you believe are needed in the

District of Sechelt? 3. Will your neighborhood require any new facilities to meet your needs in the next

ten years? What will your neighborhood need? When do you expect to need these facilities?

4. What facilities including trails, beach accesses and parks would you like to see established in your neighborhood and the District as a whole in the next ten years?

5. Does your neighborhood have any volunteer groups who do volunteer labour in parks, trails or beach accesses? What would they be willing to do in the future?


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Table 2.1 summarizes the information and opinions gained through consultation with community groups. Table 2.1 Community Association Interviews Neighbourhood Associations

Comments

Davis Bay, Selma Park, Wilson Creek

- Maintenance is required in the Chapman Creek area and a bridge should be built to cross the creek - Trails at Chapman Creek could follow example of Cliff Gilker park - Improvements required to Davis Bay pier, paint, widening - No additional benches are required - No new fields are required - Chapman Creek Park should be expanded

Sandy Hook - Playground Equipment is desired - Some beach accesses are not accessible for many users - Hidden Grove park should be protected - Buffer areas should be left between communities and parks - More beach accesses that are accessible to a variety of users should be developed

East Porpoise Bay - Trails should be developed in Burnet Creek park - The Meandering trail should be completed - Yew Rd. beach access should be opened

West Porpoise Bay - Would like to see more parks - Kinnikinnick is an excellent, well-used park - Duck pond should be developed as a park - Access to the waterfront should be made more accessible for seniors - More beach accesses are required and they should be accessible to a wide range of users - The waterfront park land in near Ripple Way should be developed as a park - Kinnikinnick park should be expanded as planned - A seniors complex should be developed at Kinnikinnick

Tuwanek - A park should be acquired near Lamb Brook - Buffer areas or Greenways between developments are desired - The Tuwanek Spit requires more maintenance - Volunteer groups could help with development and maintenance

Village - Lack of unorganized play - Increasing population of seniors warrants more senior oriented parks that include walking paths, seating areas - Seniors would benefit from development of many smaller parks that they could walk to easily - A larger waterfront park is desired - Seating areas, ponds, and gardens should be added


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2.3.2 User Groups Interviews were conducted with the main park user groups to assess how well their needs were being met by current park facilities. The groups were also asked to identify their future facility requirements. The following user groups were interviewed:

• Sunshine Coast Fastball League • Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association • Sunshine Coast Women’s Soccer Association • Sechelt Minor Softball • Ultimate players • Sunshine Coast Men’s Soccer Association

(Central Minor Hardball did not respond) The following questions were used to guide the interviews:

Are your current park requirements being met? 1. What new park facilities do you believe are needed in the district? 2. Will you require any new facilities to meet your needs in the next 10 years?

What will you need? When do you expect to need these facilities? 3. At what times does your group usually use fields? 4. Could these times be expanded or changed decrease the need for fields? 5. What facilities do you use now? Which Parks? 6. Do you use school properties? 7. Could you name four park improvements that are required in order of

priority? These interviews gathered suggestions about future park development and current park needs of District sports groups. Table 2.2 shows the results of the user group interviews.


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Table 2.2 User Group Interviews Sechelt Minor Softball (Spring Season)

- Needs are barely met - Another field is required - Hackett Park and Kinnikinnick Park are used 5 nights a week - The size of the league is fairly stable now but it is expected grow as the population of the District increases - School fields are in bad condition and are too small for older teens - One game is played on each field per night during the season - Existing backstops at Picadilly and Kinnikinnick Parks need to be heightened and wrapped around more - Hackett could use another set of bleachers - A small softball diamond would be useful at Cascade Green

Sunshine Coast Fastball League (Summer Season)

- Use Hackett Park - Will not require any new facilities in the next 10 years - Kinnikinnick park needs netting to keep the balls from going into the forest

Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association (Winter Season)

- All fields are currently used to the maximum, more fields should be constructed - More lighted fields are required for nighttime practices - Picadilly Park has an excellent field and more like this should be constructed - Hackett Park gets the most use - Shared fields are not ideal for soccer since the pitch changes from grass to double crush on the baseball diamonds - Expansion of Kinnikinnick Park will help considerably - Ted Dixon fields need to be repaired - Fields are overused - Scheduling problems - Currently the registration is stable but as growth continues in the District the league is expected to grow as well - Ideally a ¾ pitch all weather lighted field would be constructed - Construction of a lighted gravel field for evening practices would take the pressure of other fields

Sunshine Coast Women’s Soccer Association

- Evening practice spaces are lacking due to lack of lighting - There are currently enough fields for weekend games - Lighting and all-weather fields are required - The league is not currently expanding but may expand in the future as the population in the District grows - Expansion of Kinnikinnick Park will provide a good competition site


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Sunshine Coast Men’s Soccer Association

- Needs are not being met - Fields are overused - When Kinnikinnick Park is expanded it will help to fill the need for fields - Fields must be properly drained or not built at all - Fields should be built where the can be developed into larger field complexes in the future for competition use. - Lighted fields should be constructed

Ultimate user group

- Currently only drop-in, could expand into a league in future - Field size is 40x70 m - There is a shortage of fields in the District of Sechelt

The following identifies concerns expressed by sports user groups:

• Lack of lighting for night practices: this problem will be solved when Kinnikinnick Park is fully developed to include a lighted field. Also, when the fields at Ted Dixon Park are repaired they will provide additional lit fields.

• Condition of soccer fields: Overuse of fields in the District causes the closure of some fields. This puts extra pressure on the few fields that remain open to meet the demand. In 2002 field closures at Ted Dixon Park (SIGD) caused scheduling problems for local soccer groups. Interagency cooperation on field maintenance as detailed in the Partnerships section of this report could help to remedy this problem.

• Inadequacy of fencing and backstops: The backstops at Kinnikinnick and Picadilly Park are not high enough to keep balls from being lost in the forest. Also at Picadilly Park, the fencing behind the soccer net on the East side is too low to keep the balls from going into the backyards of the neighbouring houses.

2.3.3 Telephone Survey A random-sample telephone survey was administered to assess Sechelt residents’ attitudes and opinions on the parks and open space in the District. The survey was designed to determine what park facilities should be developed in the future. The results are contained in Appendix A and complete survey is contained in Appendix B. 2.3.4 Paper Suggestion Form This form was made available to the public at the District of Sechelt office, on the library bulletin board, outside the District of Sechelt office on the community message board and at Trail Bay mall on the notice board. The forms were held in colourful folders and were clearly visible. Suggestions from this form are included in Appendix B. 2.3.5 Internet Suggestion Form In order to solicit opinions and ideas with regard to future park locations, facilities needed and types of parks required a web based suggestion form was added to the District of Sechelt Web Page. Unfortunately not many people used the form.


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2.3.6 Public Meetings Parks Master Plan Public Forum A publicly advertised forum was held on July 24, 2003 to gather opinions and ideas about the types of parks, beach accesses and trails that should be developed in the District. The meeting began with a short presentation detailing the Master Plan process and then solicited input from the attendees. A copy of the minutes recorded at this meeting is provided in Appendix C and an outline of the presentation that was given is included in Appendix D. Cascade Green Public Meeting: This meeting was held on June 26, 2003 to hear public opinion on the future development of the Cascade Green Park in West Sechelt. Architectural sketches were presented that offered two options for development of the park. The residents who attended the meeting voiced strong opposition to a soccer field being built at Cascade Green Park. Those in attendance much preferred a more natural park including walking trails and meadows with seating areas. The minutes from this meeting are included in Appendix E. 2.3.7 Trail Committee The District of Sechelt Trail Committee comprises six members and convenes once every three weeks to discuss the implementation of a comprehensive trail system in the District of Sechelt. The consultant met with the Trail Committee four times during the planning process. The meetings of this committee were used to produce much of the Trail Strategy and map the trails that should be developed in the District. 2.4 Trends in Park and Open Space Use Based on the community consultation process the following trends in park usage have been identified in the District of Sechelt:

• Fastball leagues in the District are shrinking and may not exist in the District in the future

• Baseball leagues on the coast will continue to expand requiring additional diamonds to accommodate all games

• The men’s soccer league has reached a plateau in recent years and will grow slowly as the population continues to expand

• The women’s soccer league is not currently expanding but is expected to grow as the population increases

• Ultimate users will likely increase in the future and will require additional field space

• Disc golf, is increasing in popularity and a course may be required in the future • Unorganized play in parks has decreased over time


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• An increasing number of seniors are looking to stay active through activities such as walking

• Beach accesses and walking trails are the most often used park and open space facilities by residents in the District of Sechelt

2.5 Demographics 2.5.1 District of Sechelt Population Statistics The following population statistics show the growth in the District of Sechelt.

Estimated population 2005: 8,500 Census population in 2001: 7,775

Census population in 1996: 7,343

Change 1996-2005: 15.9%

Population over age 65 in 2001: 1,780 (22.9%) The following table, obtained from SCORE, shows the population growth for the District of Sechelt from 1991-2001.

Table 2.3 Total Population and Annual Change, District of Sechelt The above table shows the annual population growth from 1991-2001 at approximately 3.8% per year. However growth in the area has been irregular making it hard to predict future growth accurately. The Planning Department projects annual growth at 2% per annum. Using this growth rate, Sechelts’ population in 2011 could be 9,500.


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2.5.2 Age Distribution by Neighbourhood Detailed age distribution data for each neighborhood in the District has been acquired from the 2001 census. This data has been used to guide the type of park facilities that should be developed in each neighborhood. For instance, neighborhoods with a high percentage of seniors should have park facilities designed for seniors, such as walking trails and seating areas. Conversely, in neighborhoods with a high percentage of families and young children, sports fields and playgrounds are a more appropriate use of park space. By designing neighborhood park facilities based on the nature of the population that surrounds them, usage and resident approval will likely be high. The following tables present age distribution data for each neighbourhood area. A summary of the data is then provided for each neighbourhood.

West Sechelt (Between Mason Road and Norwest Bay Road, 0045)

01020304050607080

0-4

5-9

10-

14

15-

19

20-

24

25-

29

30-

34

35-

39

40-

44

45-

49

50-

54

55-

59

60-

64

65-

69

70-

74

75-

79

80-

84

85-

89

90-

94

95-

99

100

+

Age (Years)

Num

ber o

f Res

iden

ts

Population of Area: 865

West Sechelt (above Norwest Bay Road, 0046)

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Population of area: 820


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The age distribution in West Sechelt is similar throughout the neighborhood. The graphs above indicate that the neighborhood is composed of predominantly young families with children. There is also a large proportion of seniors who account for approximately 25% of the population. Parks and Open spaces in the area should therefore be designed with these two main user groups in mind. West Porpoise Bay (Total Population: 880)

West Porpoise Bay (Reeves Rd. to Heritage Rd., 0048)

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The age distribution in West Porpoise Bay indicates a large number of young families with children. Secondarily, there is a significant population of seniors whose Parks and Open Space needs should also be met. Village (Total Population: 1445)

Village (South of Medusa Street, 0054)

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Population of Area: 710


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Village (North of Medusa Street to Anchor Road, 0050)

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Population of Area: 735 The age distribution of residents in the Village shows that a very large proportion of residents are seniors. In the area south of Medusa Street 50% of residents are over 60 years of age. North of Medusa Street 39% of residents are over 60 years of age. This is a very significant trend that should be reflected in the Park and Open space facilities in this area. Selma Park (Total Population: 515)

Selma Park (0058)

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The Selma Park area is composed mainly of seniors with the over 60-age group constituting 39% of the population. There are also many residents in the 50-60 age group who will likely stay in the area causing the demographics of the area to age in the future.


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Davis Bay (Total Population: 900)

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Davis Bay has many residents who are over 60 year of age, constituting 32% of the population. However, this area also has a large number of young families with small children. Wilson Creek (Total Population: 740)

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Wilson Creek has a fairly even age distribution with many young families and seniors. The over 60-age group constitutes 32% of the population in this area.


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East Porpoise Bay (Total Population: 245)

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East Porpoise Bay is largely a family oriented area with many families and young children. Only 18% of the population is made up of residents 60 and over. However there are many residents in the 50 - 60 age group. If these residents stay in the area the age distribution for the area will age with them. The young age demographic in this area could also be related to the predominance of large lots that are difficult to maintain. It is likely that as more subdivision occurs in the future that the demographics of the area will age. Sandy Hook and Tuwanek (Total Population: 555)

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The population of Sandy Hook/Tuwanek has a large number of young families. However, there are also many residents who are over 60 years old in the area constituting 23% of the population. It is also important to note the large number of residents who are between 45-60 years of age who constitute 27% of the population. If most of these residents stay in the area to retire they will cause the age distribution of the area to shift towards a predominantly older community in the future.


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2.6 Conclusion An analysis of the demographic trends, user group comments and the situational analysis shows the following concerns:

• A shortage of field facilities

• An uneven distribution of parks throughout the Sechelt neighborhoods

• Scheduling issues for organized field sports

• Quality of sports fields

• A need to balance park facilities with neighborhood demographics.


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3.Parks Strategy

3.1 Introduction This section of the Parks Plan provides an inventory of park space in the District and develops a strategy to enable the District of Sechelt to meet the park needs of residents and visitors to the year 2010. Section 3 identifies the following:

1. Park development standards and classification systems; 2. An inventory of parks; 3. An evaluation of Sechelt neighborhood parks; 4. Recommendations for a parkland acquisition strategy; 5. Funding options.

3.2 Park Classification System The National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA) has developed a park classification system which serves to standardize planning, design, development and maintenance of community parks. The NRPA classification system includes a hierarchy of parks (community parks, neighborhood parks, tot lots; their location and size vis a vis residential areas) (Butler et al) The criteria of the NRPA system have been included in the Parks and Open Space section of the OCP. 3.2.1 Neighbourhood Parks • Neighbourhood Parks typically provide a broad range of recreation opportunities for

an entire neighbourhood. They are located at central points of major residential areas with prominent street access. The minimum area requirement for


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neighbourhood park space is 1.2 hectares per 1000 population. (400 -500 residences)

In conventional single family neighbourhoods, parks should be located within a maximum distance of 1000 m from all residents. Ideally, this type of park should be planned and developed adjacent an elementary school that serves the area so that facilities might be shared.

A neighbourhood park usually includes a number of the following components: • creative play area; • minimal parking; • passive park area (treed sites) for sitting and reading; • washrooms; • a garden area; • ancillary elements such as benches, trash containers, drinking fountain; • soccer pitch; • softball/baseball diamond; • picnic area; and • an asphalt play area for tennis and basketball.

The requirement for neighbourhood parks is less in rural areas and or where lot sizes are very large due to the large amount of open space associated with lower density developments. In rural areas, school sites serve as a neighborhood parks. Whitaker Park, Piccadilly Park and the field facilities at Davis Bay Elementary, Sechelt Elementary and West Sechelt Elementary serve as neighborhood parks. • Mini-parks (Tot-Lots) are typically the smallest areas of open space within the

community. These parks are used to serve areas that have a high percentage of families with young children.

A tot lot should be designed to include the following elements: • a creative play area including highly visible play equipment; • a grassy area; • small picnic area; and • a garden feature.

When provided, tot lots should be located in the heart of subdivisions or housing developments and are directly accessible by walking or cycling. Tot lots should be constructed where there is insufficient population to warrant a full sized neighborhood park and where residents are further than 500 m from a neighborhood park. Since tot lots have relatively high maintenance costs partnerships with strata corporations or community associations should be developed for ongoing maintenance and development.


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3.2.2 Community Level • Athletic Parks are intended to be major tournament level sport facilities. These

parks should be centralized wherever possible to avoid duplication and include high quality support facilities (e.g. concession, dressing rooms, washrooms, lighting etc.) Ideally, all of the following components should be accommodated on each site:

• Ball Diamonds • Lighting • Concessions • Washrooms • Parking • Spectator seating • Ancillary elements such benches such containers, drinking fountain; • Soccer Pitches/Ultimate Fields • Dressing Rooms • Maintenance/Storage Area

The Kinnikinnick Park sports fields and Hackett Park serve as major athletic parks in the District of Sechelt.

• Natural Parks include informal outdoor facilities and serve as destinations for residents throughout the district for walking, picnicking and communing with nature, as well as more rigorous forms of recreation, such as hiking and mountain biking. In addition such areas can protect unique flora and fauna, as well as natural and historic features.

• Components should include the following:

• interpretive trails; • nature/historic centre; • perimeter parking; • picnic areas; • rest areas; • viewpoint(s); • mountain bike trails • the identification, protection and interpretation of sensitive ecological features

Location and size is dependent upon the resource base rather than any planning standard. Boundary delineation should encompass not only the natural area but also a sufficient buffer zone and staging area for access, parking and public services. Kinnikinnick Park, the Heritage Forest and the Chapman Creek trail network are examples of natural park areas.


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• Garden Parks are extensively landscaped areas, the primary function of which is urban beautification. Their role is to beautify the landscape and to make an impression on the visitor entering the community or on the residents of the area. Components may include:

• Floral Displays • Interpretive Displays • Landscaping • Seating Areas • Special Exhibits • Walkways

The location of decorative parks should focus on areas adjacent to the entrances to the community, around public buildings and along streets where landscaping can create a positive visual impression. Examples include Acacia Park, the Cenotaph square, Davis Bay Waterfront, Block Seven and the Seaside Center.

3.3 Park Development Guidelines 3.3.1 Area Requirements: The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) guidelines for neighborhood parks, includes 1.2 hectares of neighborhood park space per 1000 residents. This standard has been adopted in Section 2.12 of the OCP outlined below.

2.12.1 A general interim guideline for provision of neighbourhood level park space shall be 1.2 ha/1000 persons. Provision of neighbourhood level space may be at lower levels in areas of low density (particularly where the density is below 2.5 units per hectare) or where there is a high proportion of seasonal residents.

2.12.2 As a general rule, neighbourhood park sites should be adjacent to public

school sites. Failing this they should be as near to school sites as possible.

2.12.3 Public elementary school sites should provide some neighbourhood open space on a portion of the site. This portion (field and play areas) will be considered within the inventory of neighbourhood level park space.

2.12.4 New family-oriented multiple family housing will provide easily monitored

“tot lot” type play areas on site, or contribute to such facilities within easy access of the housing site.


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2.12.5 The District of Sechelt will consider the need for garden allotment spaces in the Village area, and the possibility of incorporating such a use into neighbourhood level park space where required.

Table 3.1 below compares the major neighbourhood parks to this standard . Table 3.1 Neighbourhood Park area Requirement by Neighbourhood Neighbourhood Population Total Park Area

(hectares) Park Area per 1000 residents (hectares)

West Sechelt 2490 4.69 1.88 Village 1445 2.07 1.43 Selma Park 515 0 0 Davis Bay/Wilson Creek

1640 1.80 1.1

East Porpoise Bay 245 0 0 West Porpoise Bay 880 1.0 .88 Sandy Hook Approx 430 1.09 2.5 Tuwanek Approx 125 0 0 The above table shows that West Sechelt, the Downtown Village and Davis Bay exceed the 1.2 ha/1000 resident criteria whereas, Tuwanek, West Porpoise Bay, East Porpoise Bay, and Sandy Hook fall short. 3.4 Inventory of Existing Parks Map 3 shows the geographic distribution of the parks in the District of Sechelt. Map 4 shows the future park designations as recommended in the OCP


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3.5 Evaluation of Park Facilities by Neighbourhood The following section evaluates Sechelt’s parks by neighborhood.

3.5.1 West Sechelt West Sechelt currently has six parks that are distributed through the neighborhood. As Map I shows most developed residential areas are within the maximum distance of a neighbourhood park area. However, only Picadilly Park, Lynwood Court Park, and part of Creekside Park are developed. Cascade Green Park has been developed to a natural park standard with maximum retention of existing vegetation and the provision of walking paths and seating areas. The West Sechelt Elementary School includes playfields which cater to minor baseball, softball as well as a playground facility. West Sechelt is currently undergoing a high level of urban development. The West Sechelt Neighborhood Plan calls for a provision of future parklands in the presently vacant areas that are designated “Comprehensive Development”. The Far West Sechelt Comprehensive Development Area (at the west end of the municipality), the Mariner’s Watch Comprehensive Development area (“the Trails”) Wakefield Creek, and the West Sechelt Comprehensive Development Area (Sangara/Clayton properties) all


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contain future parkland designations. Each CD area contains specific parkland requirements that should be met when these properties are developed. (play fields, natural parks, waterfront parks, pedestrian pathways.

3.5.2 The Downtown Village The Downtown Village neighborhood currently has five neighbourhood parks including: Hackett Park, Acacia Park, Snickett Park/Boulevard, the Sechelt Marsh and Osborne Park. These parks offer a wide variety of facilities including: natural areas, waterfront areas, walking trails, sports fields, tennis courts, picnic tables, seating areas and more. Other field facilities in the Village include Sechelt Elementary School and Chatelech High School. Together the schools offer sports fields, a playground, a basketball court and a skateboard park.


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As illustrated in the Demographics section of this report, residents of the Downtown Village neighborhood are predominantly seniors. Parks facilities and open spaces should be accessible to seniors. In addition the Village area presents a tourist attraction due to the waterfront. With the conveyance of the Petro Can property, the District is working on a plan for the Maritime Gateway Park on lots 15, 16 and 17 in partnership with the Sechelt Rotary Club, SDBA and the Urban Greenway Committee. Elements include a floating dock at the end of the pier, a children’s waterfront playground, parking lot, and washrooms. Block 7 is a civic precinct that includes the Sechelt Public Library, the Sechelt municipal offices, the RCMP building, provincial courthouse and the Seaside Center. The Sunshine Coast Regional District aquatic facility scheduled to open in 2008 will be located on Block 7. As of November 2005, Block 7 has been landscaped by the District of Sechelt and the Botanical Garden Society. This project won a provincial BIA award for downtown enhancement in 2006.

3.5.3 West Porpoise Bay The West Porpoise Bay neighbourhood contains the District’s major recreation facilities including Kinnikinnick Park, the Sechelt Golf and Country Club and the Sechelt Arena and Kinnikinnick Elementary School. Residential subdivisions have dedicated parkland


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that will include improvements such as seating areas and walkways. In July 2006, the Sechelt Tennis Club has cleared a site adjacent to the arena for an indoor tennis facility. The recently completed West Porpoise Bay Neighborhood Plan identifies the need for additional neighbourhood park space to meet the need for toddlers and children’s activities. The age distribution of West Porpoise Bay indicates a younger population than much of the District with many young families and children. To accommodate the needs of these residents priority for park development should be placed on developing neighborhood parks and small fields for informal play. A small natural feature known as the “Duck Pond” (Lot 1, Plan 17163) is located on the north side of Fairway Avenue near Beacon Street. Many local residents use this area for nature appreciation and educational purposes. Public input from the West Porpoise Bay Community Association and other members of the public indicate that the Duck Pond at Fairway Avenue and Beacon Street is an important feature of the neighbourhood.


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3.5.4 East Porpoise Bay The East Porpoise Bay neighbourhood currently has one park, Burnett Creek Park and an esplanade along the Sechelt Inlet waterfront between Allen Road and Yew Road. Neither is developed. The neighbourhood currently has only 245 residents and most of the lots are quite large. However, this area is expected to grow in the near future, with the proposed Silverback golf course and waterfront resort development and a proposed subdivision in the former Gow Pit. The neighborhood fronts on Sechelt Inlet and a significant waterfront recreation asset includes the Porpoise Bay Provincial Park. The present demographic makeup of the neighbourhood shows a variety of age groups with a low percentage of residents over 60. Therefore park facilities in this area should be developed with emphasis on facilities for younger residents.


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3.5.5 Sandy Hook The Sandy Hook neighborhood currently has one large neighborhood park with a waterfront and boat launch on Arc Road at the east end of Coracle Road. Although steep, this park area has flat benches and an internal trail network. Additional parkland in Sandy Hook includes: a developed mini-park, one undeveloped mini-park on Deerhorn and Skookumchuck Roads and the Heritage Forest which was downloaded from the Ministry of Forests to the District of Sechelt in 2003. Sandy Hook is geographically spread out and characterized by steep topography. The Neighbourhood Parks Distribution map (Map I) shows that most of the area is within 500


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m of a neighborhood park. However, most of the parks are very small and none of them offer flat field space for field activities. There are a variety of age groups in the Sandy Hook area including many seniors and young families. To meet the needs of all residents of Sandy Hook a wide range of facilities will be required in the parks.

3.5.6 Tuwanek Tuwanek does not have any formal parks. Future development is limited by topography. A kayak staging area exists where Sechelt Inlet Road lies adjacent to the waterfront north of Islets Place.


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Interest has been expressed in developing the old Interfor site at Gray Creek into a waterfront destination resort. This site is level and has a generous frontage on Sechelt Inlet with 180 degree views across and up the Inlet.

3.5.7 Selma Park, Davis Bay and Wilson Creek The Selma Park area has no developed parks. Neighborhood residents have expressed a need for a neighborhood park facility has been expressed in the vicinity of Lot 71 in DL. 1329. Davis Bay currently has four park facilities including Mission Point Park, Davis Bay Walkway and beach, Whitaker Park and Brookman Park. Also in this area is Davis Bay


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elementary school, which has soccer field and playground equipment. These park facilities are at the east end of Davis Bay. The Wilson Creek area has no developed parks. 3.6 Park Implementation Strategy The following section proposes a park development strategy for the District of Sechelt. This divided into the following two sections: 3.6.1 “Development of Existing Parks” which outlines the recommended actions to be taken in existing parks 3.6.2 “Future Park Acquisition and Development” makes recommendations on where new parks should be acquired and what type of facilities should be developed within the new park 3.6.1 Development of Existing Parkland Currently, there are a number of parks that are underused due to a lack of facilities. In order to maximize usage and quality of existing parks a number of improvements should occur. These parks are described below and illustrated on Map III. 3.6.1.1 Pacific View Park (West Sechelt) This neighborhood park is located on a sloped property in a developing area of West Sechelt just north of Baillie Road. Vegetation on the site consists of several large coniferous trees, blackberry thickets and rye grass. There are two pedestrian walkways that provide access to the park from Derby Road and Baillie Road. The area provides impressive views of the Strait of Georgia and the Trial Islands. The topography of this park and its irregular shape would make it impossible to use as a field site. It is therefore recommended that this neighbourhood park be developed with the following amenities:

• Off leash dog area: Due to the high number of dogs in this area an off leash dog area could be developed for neighbourhood residents. In order to accommodate an off-leash area the park will require a large area with short grass that can be used as a play area.

• Benches: Benches should be placed in a number of locations through the park that will provide good viewpoints.

• Vegetation: Native vegetation should be planted in the park to replace most of the Blackberries bushes that currently dominate the landscape.

• Paths: Walking paths should be created that link benches, planting areas and viewpoints throughout the park.


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• Dog bag dispensers and garbage dispenser: for public users.

Implementation

• Develop a concept plan • Host an on-site public information meeting to hear residents

opinions and concerns • Develop a budget and schedule

3.6.1.2 Creekside Park (West Sechelt) Creekside Park is located immediately west of Bjorn Place and north of Norwest Bay Road in West Sechelt. It comprises a neighbourhood type park space and a natural park. The natural area of Creekside Park has been developed to include hiking trails and seating areas. The neighbourhood park facility has been landscaped and benches and picnic tables have been added.

Implementation

• A budget and schedule should be prepared to identify and implement improvements to existing trails, landscaping, signage, and portable youth soccer goals

3.6.1.3 Wakefield Creek Park (West Sechelt) Wakefield Creek Park is a large natural park that surrounds Wakefield Creek. It is accessible from Wakefield Road and Lynnwood Court. This park could be developed to include hiking and mountain biking trails. Trails should be constructed as far from the creek as possible in order to discourage hikers and dogs from causing damage to the creek. Interpretive signs should also be constructed.

Implementation

• A budget and schedule should be prepared to construct, trails, benches and interpretive signage.

3.6.1.4 Picadilly Park (West Sechelt) Picadilly Park contains a soccer/softball field and some playground equipment suitable for young children. It is centrally located on Jasper Road and is used regularly. Consultation with user groups indicates that the fence behind the soccer net on the eastern side of the park is too low to keep the balls from going into the neighbouring residential yards. It is therefore recommended that this fence be heightened to remedy


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this problem. Additionally, the backstop on the softball diamond is reported to be insufficient to foul balls from flying out onto the Jasper Road.

Implementation

• A budget and schedule should be developed to construct additional fencing.

3.6.1.5 Burnett Creek Park (Phase 1) (East Porpoise Bay) Burnett Creek Park is a 1.3 ha. (3.2 acre) park dedication that was taken at the time of the subdivision of the Marmot Road subdivision on DL 1558. This park land includes a water feature on Burnett Creek. This park is not well known to residents as it is accessed by the unopened and unmarked Burnett Road allowance east of Swansons.

Implementation A park plan should be developed including access, trails, benches and seating areas and interpretive signage

3.6.1.6 District Lot 1556 (East Porpoise Bay) The Stockwell family has progressively subdivided portions of property in DL.1556. The Planning Department and the Stockwell family has agreed that the parkland dedication associated with the creation of a 1 ha strata subdivision on the west side of Sechelt Inlet Road would be applied to the future subdivision of the Stockwell land north of Yew Road and east of Sechelt Inlet Road. Preliminary discussions with the Stockwell family have included the development of a neighborhood park on Lot 12 of Plan 3836.

Implementation As a condition of subdivision of the Stockwell lands on the east side of Sechelt Inlet Road a park plan be developed for a neighborhood park including a budget and development schedule

3.6.1.7 Silverback The proposed Silverback Golf Course Resort and Seaside Village includes the dedication of approximately 23 ha of parkland, open space and trails, including a 1.1 ha linear park on the Porpoise Bay waterfront; a 3.4 ha park dedication on Shannon Creek and three large open space blocks at the north and south ends of the development. The parkland will be developed by the developer in concert with the District. The developer has agreed that the golf course operation will maintain the parks.


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Implementation

• As a condition of Silverback approvals, the developer and the District of Sechelt staff shall prepare plans and budgets for the parks in the Silverback development.

3.6.1.8 Kinnikinnick Park (West Porpoise Bay) This community level park is located in West Porpoise Bay. It currently contains softball/baseball diamonds, a soccer field and a large natural area incorporating a network of trails. The park has been expanded to include a second multiuse field with two softball/baseball diamonds and a soccer field. Based on interviews with user groups this expansion is necessary and when completed it should satisfy the field requirements of most user groups. It is essential that lighting be installed as soon as possible on these fields to meet the growing need for evening practice fields. It is recommended that this development proceed as planned by Public Works Staff.

Implementation • The possibility of installing additional netting to stop stray balls should

be investigated and implemented if it will be economical and effective

3.6.1.9 Hackett Park (Village) Hackett Park is centrally located in the Village and is one of the Districts’ most well used parks. Residents and visitors use the park for its sports fields, sitting areas, tennis courts and playground equipment. Since the Village area is home to more than 50% seniors the park should be well suited to meet their needs. In order to do this, more senior oriented facilities should be added. These facilities should include a lawn bowling green or bocce ball court. Lawn bowling or bocce ball equipment could be made available for people to borrow from the Seniors Center located across the street from the park. A lawn bowling green or bocce ball court could be constructed on the lower section of Hackett Park amongst the trees.

Implementation

• A plan be developed for Hackett Park including possible development of boce ball or lawn bowling, use of the park for community events.


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3.6.1.10 Block 7 (Village) Block 7 is a civic precinct that includes the municipal hall and public library, the Justice Service Building and the Seaside Center. The regional aquatic center is proposed for completion in the summer of 2007. The landscape improvements in the civic precinct has been undertaken by District’s park staff and volunteers pursuant to a plan developed by Sharpe and Diamond Landscape Architects (2000). Works include passive facilities such as: sitting areas, gardens and public pathways to link the buildings. The construction of the Aquatic Center in 2006-2007 will include parking and landscaped facilities.

Implementation • The future aquatic center parking lot and landscaped areas be

consistent with the Block 7 theme and design

3.6.1.11 Maritime Gateway Park The Maritime Gateway Park comprises lots 15, 16 and 17 which front the Trail Bay Waterfront at the CAL pier. Plans to develop this area as a public park commenced in 2001 with the initiative to build a “Seaside Center” on lots 15 and 16 which were proposed to be gifted to the District of Sechelt by Petro Can. Because of site contamination issues, title to the subject lots could not be transferred in time to allow the construction of Seaside Center in 2004 and the building was constructed on Block 7. In April 2006 the Petro Can lots were conveyed to the District of Sechelt. In 2004 concept plans were developed by the District of Sechelt in partnership with the Sechelt Rotary club for a Maritime Gateway park that includes the following elements:

• Deactivation of Sinku Boulevard and Wharf Road and construction of a new road from Wharf Road to Xenichan Boulevard immediately north of the ambulance station.

• Development of a parking lot and active play area and landscape treatment • Development of a children’s playground by the Sechelt Rotary Club • Development of a float off the wharf to encourage day moorage by tourist

pleasure craft Implementation

• The concept plan for the Maritime Gateway Park should be refined to include linkages to the waterfront

• A detailed budget be prepared for site servicing and development • The road works program be undertaken by the District • Partnerships be formed between the District of Sechelt, Sechelt Indian

Band, Marine Gateway Access Committee, service clubs and volunteers to construct the Maritime Gateway Park


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3.6.2 Future Park Acquisition and Development In order to meet the current and future park needs of residents and visitors of the District of Sechelt additional parkland should be acquired and developed. Land recommended for acquisition as parkland has been selected by considering the information gained through the Geographic Analysis (Section 2.2), Community Consultation (section 2.3), Trends in Park and Open Space Use (section 2.4), and the Demographics Study (section 2.5).and the parkland designations in the OCP and Neighborhood Plan. Park sites are outlined below and illustrated on Map 5 (the Future Parkland Acquisition Areas) and Map 6 (Downtown Parks and Walking Paths). This section also includes specific development strategies for a number of parks as follows. 3.6.2.1 Trail Bay Boulevard (Village) The Trail Bay Boulevard between Trail Avenue and Ocean Avenue has been proposed to be closed to vehicles and the roadway deactivated and used as a waterfront promenade. The residences that front the Boulevard have rear yard access from Windward Lane (that runs between Ocean Avenue and Trail Avenue). Public parking might be negotiated with Publico Holdings who own the abutting property between Windward Lane and Teredo Street. In the absence of vehicular access to the Boulevard landscaping, dedicated pathway and beach access could be planned. Completion of the boulevard would connect Snickett Park to the Maritime Gateway Park and provide a 2 km promenade along the Trail Bay waterfront between Snickett Park in the west and the Sechelt Indian Village in the east.

Implementation

• The District of Sechelt finalize a plan and budget and public information process to implement a road closure on the Boulevard between Trail Avenue and Ocean Avenue.

. 3.6.2.2 Selma Park Selma Park residents have voiced concern about the lack of park facilities in the Selma Park neighborhood. A 75 lot subdivision located between Havies and Nestman Road in DL 1379 requires a communal septic field and a statutory park dedication. The communal septic field is located at the south end of the property is 1.13 ha (2.8 acres) in size and could be suited to a play area. It has access from Pam and Betty Roads via Nestman Road on the north and is accessible from Havies Road on the south. The


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statutory parkland dedication is .52 ha (1.13 acres) and lies adjacent to the Chapman Creek trail in the north end of the subdivision.

Implementation

• Develop a plan for both the sewage disposal bed and the statutory park dedication in DL 1379 that includes playgrounds, children sports field and seating areas including landscaping.

3.6.2.3 Duck Pond (West Porpoise Bay) A small pond that drains into Carroll Brook is located at Fairway Avenue and Beacon Street. It is a well known landmark in Sechelt and is home to a variety of ducks, birds, and amphibians. Many District residents currently use the duck pond for walking, bird watching and nature appreciation. The property is currently privately owned and it is recommended the area be protected for environmental protection and park uses.

Implementation

• The land should be taken for parkland at the time of subdivision of Plan 17163

• Signage should be installed on Fairway Avenue in front of the pond

• Interpretive signs should be designed and installed at the entrance to the site to provide an educational experience for park users

3.6.2.4 Mission Point The District of Sechelt owns Lot 4, Plan 9551 at Mission Point. It has been pursuing the acquisition of two abutting properties at Mission Point to extend the Davis Bay waterfront to Chapman Creek. In 2005 The District entered into a life estate contract with the Robertson family for Lot 3, Block B, Plan 9551 DL 1356. The District has been negotiating with the Goodwin family for Lot 5, Block B Plan 17933, and DL 1356. These properties jointly comprise 1.5ha. These properties could be developed as a significant waterfront picnic, upland play areas tributary to the Mission Point delta and complement the Davis Bay Beach area. 3.6.2.5 Sangara Property In 2006, the Sangara family rezoned and made application for a 30 lot subdivision in DL1384 (West Sechelt). As a condition of subdivision, a .65 ha park dedication was taken at the west end of the subdivision below Norwest Bay Road adjacent to Highway


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101. This park dedication offers an opportunity for viewing area to the Trail Islands and Georgia Straits as well as the potential for a trail to the waterfront and a prominent rock ledge at the natural boundary. The OCP identifies Park locations on the upland side of 1384 that should be taken at the time of subdivision. 3.6.2.6 Wakefield Beach In 2005/2006 the Wakefield Inn property was developed as a residential condominium. The first phase included 16 buildings consisting of duplexes, triplexes and single family units along the waterfront. A second phase adjacent to Mason Road includes 17 units comprising of single family dwellings and triplexes. As a condition of development, Wakefield homes dedicated a .1 ha park at the westerly side near Wakefield Creek and a .02 ha park adjacent to Mason Road at the easterly edge. In addition, the developer has constructed a pedestrian trail along the covenanted “no build” 15 meter set back boundary from the natural boundary. These park dedications are limited to providing public access to the waterfront and seating/viewing areas. 3.6.2.7 Trail Bay Estates The Trail Bay Estates property in DL 1385 lies adjacent to Chatelech High School. In 2006, the first phase comprising 65 lots above the Sunshine Coast Highway received zoning and preliminary layout approval. As a condition of subdivision, the developer dedicated a 1.6 ha park north of the extension of Cowrie Street. A draft landscape plan allows for internal paths and seating areas. The park links to the high school and the existing trail network that traverses the Sangara/Trail Bay Estates property between West Sechelt and the high school. 3.6.2.8 The Trails The Trails is a 343 unit development on District Lots 2337 and 2338 in West Sechelt covering approximately 75 ha. The developer has dedicated approximately 23 ha of parkland and open space including a 15 ha park at the east end. The open space comprises corridors in which a trail network will be developed. 3.6.2.9 Concordia Homes (West Sechelt) The first phase of the Concordia Homes development at the west end of Gale Avenue North is a 29 lot subdivision including a 1.9 ha park that fronts on Snake Bay. In addition, the developer agrees to construct a trail along the Sechelt Inlet waterfront. 3.6.2.10 The Ridge (Downtown Village) The Ridge consists of a 39 single family lots and 3 multi family sites on Lot 149, DL 1331 at Trail Avenue and Binnacle Roads. The Developer proposes a .12 ha park dedication that will have a viewing and eating area and a .09 ha walkway that will connect to Anchor Way and downtown Sechelt.


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3.7 Conclusion Chapter 3 of the Parks Master Plan identifies a number of park areas that exist and parkland that has been dedicated to the District by the subdivision approval process. A number of park development plans are recommended for improvement. Development of these parks would make the District of Sechelt consistent with the National Recreation and Parks Association guidelines of 1.2 ha. of neighborhood parks per 1000 residents and that all residents should live within 500 meters of a neighborhood park. Historically the statutory (5%) parkland dedication saw unsuitable development land such as wetlands or unstable slopes conveyed to the municipality as parklands. While these areas might be covenanted as protected environmentally sensitive areas, they are often less than suitable for useable park space. The District’s Planning Department must recognize the importance of centrally located, relatively level lands which can be a focal point for a neighborhood as well as increasing the aesthetics and property value of a subdivision. 3.8 Parkland Acquisition and Development Funding Options The following section outlines alternate means whereby parkland and open space might be acquired. In order to create a complete system of parks and open spaces the District should make use of all of the available options. 3.8.1 Five Percent Dedication Section 941 of the Local Government Act requires those who subdivide property to dedicate a maximum of 5% percent of subdivided lands for park purposes or to pay a cash amount equal to 5% land value. This method helps to acquire neighborhood parks in larger subdivisions or to build a parks reserve fund for purchasing park land.

Usually the 5% land acquisition is applied to lands suitable to active park development. Natural hazard areas or ecologically sensitive areas are usually covenanted as no build areas or designated as open space pursuant to development permit guidelines. 3.8.2 Purchase The District of Sechelt budgets the following three major sources of funds for the acquisition of parklands.

• Funds acquired in lieu of the 5 percent dedication of land at the time of

subdivision. • Development cost charges that are charged on newly subdivided lands

specifically to purchase or develop land for parks to serve the surrounding community. ($1088 per unit Parkland per DDC Bylaw)

• The Parkland acquisition fund that receives $150,000 each year as part of the Capital plan.

“Invest in land ‘cause they ain’t makin’ anymore of it.” Will Rogers


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3.8.3 Negotiation The District can negotiate additional parklands and amenities (over and above the required 5 percent dedication) as part of rezoning or development approval in exchange for higher density in development. This can be effective where the Official Community Plan designates a park allocation in excess of the statutory 5% limit. 3.8.4 Crown Land Transfer or Purchase on Lease The District can negotiate the purchase or transfer of lands held by the provincial or federal governments for parkland purposes. Transfer or purchase for a nominal fee is usually contingent on an agreement for local government to use the land for park purposes. However, a provincial policy is being developed by the Bureau of Land Management for Crown Land for institutional purposes. 3.8.5 Donation Landowners may donate full or partial title to lands for park purposes in exchange for Revenue Canada tax credits. The District can accept land in trust, holding it in accordance with the conditions of a trust agreement. As an alternative, the District can accept cash donations for parkland acquisition. 3.8.6 Private Lease The District can acquire rights to occupy land for an agreed upon purpose for a specified period of time. Long-term leases (20 or more years) with the Province for the use of Crown lands as public open space are fairly common in B.C. Lease agreements can also be held with private landowners whose interests are compatible with park objectives (e.g. trails through lands held by forest companies). 3.8.7 Rights of Way and Statutory Rights-of-Way Rights of Way and Statutory Rights of Way are registered on title to allow access across a private property. This is usually taken at the time of subdivision. In a right of way title vests with the municipality. In the case of a statutory right of way title vests with the land owner, however the covenant that defines the statutory right of way describes its use, (i.e. .public access or right of passage for maintenance purposes. 3.8.8 Partnerships By agreement, local government might partner with an organization such as Ducks Unlimited or the Nature Trust to acquire lands for public use. Usually the above referenced bodies partner in the acquisition of sensitive habitats or riparian areas. 3.8.9 Development Cost Charges Parkland Development Cost Charges (DCCs) were implemented in the District of Sechelt in 1997 based pursuant to Section 936 of the Local Government Act. The District of Sechelt Parkland DCC rates were set at $1,088 per lot for Single Family Residential and per unit for Multi Family Residential in 1996. This levy is current in 2006.


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For comparison purposes the following table illustrates DCC charges for a number of municipalities in BC. Table 3.8.9 Park Development Cost Charges in selected BC Municipalities Pitt Meadows (for parkland acquisition) $2,230.00 per dwelling unit

Pitt Meadows (for parkland Development) $521.00 per dwelling unit

Port Coquitlam (Single family dwelling) $3132.00 per dwelling unit

Port Coquitlam (Multiple family dwelling) $1788.00 per dwelling unit

Burnaby (Single and Two family) $6521.00 per lot

Penticton (Single family residential) $1162.00 per lot

Courtenay (Single family) $684.00 per unit

Courtenay (Multiple family) $479.00 per unit

Nanaimo (Single family) $1961.67 per unit

Nanaimo (Multiple family) $13.08 per sq. metre gross building floor area.

Existing Park Funds The District of Sechelt has two park reserve funds (i.e. the parkland Acquisition fund and the Parks DCC Fund). The Parkland Acquisition fund includes cash in lieu of statutory parkland dedication contributions from developers. As of 2005 the balance of this reserve fund was $938,659. The Parks DCC fund is the reserve fund which comprises the $1088 per unit charge levied on residential development. As of 2005 the balance of this account was $266,410.


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4. Trails and Greenways

Strategy 4.1 Introduction The District of Sechelt currently has a number of walking and cycling trails that are used frequently by residents and visitors. Many of these are on vacant undeveloped properties. The District lacks multiuse pathways that link neighborhoods and parks. This lack of dedicated pathways discourages pedestrian and cycling traffic. The Sunshine Coast Highway is the only arterial that connects Davis Bay, West Sechelt and the downtown core. The absence of paved shoulders, narrow pavement width and open ditches mitigates against safe cycling and pedestrian use of the highway. Greenways have been considered for the District of Sechelt in the past in a number of documents including the Urban Greenway Study (Urban Systems, 1996). This study recommended a number of Greenway projects including the now extremely popular Davis Bay walkway. This report identified Urban Greenways as a key element in the pursuit of tourism, access to the core area and outdoor recreation in general. The report also recommended that greenways form an integral component of the development framework for the District. An effective system of trails and greenways could enable residents and visitors to travel by foot and bicycle throughout the District thus encouraging healthy lifestyles and create a more vibrant and attractive community. To this end, the Trail and Greenways Strategy proposes a system of trails and greenways that will connect all neighborhoods of the District and offer recreational opportunities to residents and visitors.


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4.2 Goals To create a district-wide system of multi-use trails/greenways that will:

• Connect all neighbourhoods of the District of Sechelt with greenways • Create greenways that connect parks and open spaces • Create paths that connect residential areas to parks and open spaces • Create a network of trails/greenways that will encourage use of alternate modes

of transportation • Increase the safety of residents by providing an alternative to using the

Sunshine Coast Highway as a pedestrian/cycling route • Provide wildlife corridors

Map # 13 shows a conceptual plan of how greenways and trails should link parks and neighbourhoods throughout the District.


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4.3 A “Greenways” Approach to Trails Trails can be considered in a broader context as “Greenway corridors” that serve many functions. A “greenway” is any linear corridor characterized by natural vegetation and open space. Greenways that incorporate trails can serve the following functions: • Environmental Benefits: Greenways can provide increased opportunity for

alternative modes of transportation. A direct result of increased alternative transportation is a reduction of motorized vehicles on District roads.

By setting aside open space and natural vegetation throughout the Greenway system, wildlife habitat and corridors may be preserved, as well as shady pedestrian access corridors.

• Recreation and Social Benefits: Provide opportunities for walking, jogging, cycling and nature appreciation and buffer conflicting land uses; enhance the value of adjacent lands and promote healthy lifestyles.

• Economic Benefits: The presence of parks and greenways can increase the value

of nearby properties. Greenway systems can be viewed as a community amenity. The District of Sechelt is an established tourist destination. A Greenways system will enable tourists to access a variety of destinations throughout the District. The Greenways system could become a legacy, attracting tourists and providing them with safe, enjoyable pedestrian and cycling corridors.

• Transportation Benefits: Offering alternate routes between residences and parks,

workplaces, shopping and other services. A well-planned combination of trails and local streets can provide a safe, attractive and more efficient route for commuting by bicycle or on foot.

Greenways may vary in width and level of development, depending on the size and scale of subdivision development and the functions that they serve. 4.4 Public Input Residents of the District of Sechelt have expressed great interest in the construction of a network of trails that connect all neighborhoods and parks. The Parks and Open Space Plan Phone Survey determined that 56% of residents rated these trails as “definitely needed” in the District. Residents who attended the Parks Master Plan Public Forum also strongly agreed with the construction of additional trails to link parks and neighborhoods.


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4.5 Types of Trails and Greenways Depending on the location, level pre-existing development, and the intended users, the most appropriate type of pathway or a variation thereof should be constructed. The five basic types of paths systems that could be used to guide the developments of trails throughout the District of Sechelt include:

1. multi-use (including wheelchair access), 2. shared-use, 3. pedestrian easements and walkways, 4. commuter bicycle lanes; and 5. hiking trails.

The following cross sections illustrate alternative trails and greenways that could be applied in Sechelt.

Figure 4.5.1 Multiuse Trail 4.5.1 Multi-Use trails Multi-use trails are intended for use by bicyclists, pedestrians and joggers and have the following characteristics:


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• Tread width: 2.0 m minimum to allow for two way bicycle traffic • Tread surface: Compacted stone fines or asphalt • Trail Clearing: 4.0 m minimum • Gradient: maximum 10% grade (15% over short distances) • Buffer width: 3.0 m minimum buffer on either side of trail • Optimum cross slope 1 - 2% for drainage

Figure 4.2 Shared Use Trail 4.5.2 Shared Use Trails Shared use trails are a more economical alternative to Multi-use trails. They provide routes for bicyclists and pedestrians and have the following characteristics:

• Tread width of 2 meters is desirable target. • Tread Surface: Natural or crusher dust


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4.5.2 Pedestrian Easements and Rights of Way Pedestrian easements and rights of ways are intended to provide links to local parks, and school sites, and to link adjacent neighborhoods. Walkways should be planned before the land is cleared for development so that trees and other vegetation can be preserved. Generally the developer should be responsible for construction of these trails as they develop the subdivision. These trails should be recognized not only as pedestrian transportation routes but also as a revitalization and beautification greenway. The standards currently used for these easements are totally unacceptable and create eyesores in the neighbourhood rather than beautiful, natural looking greenways. In order to remedy this problem these easements and walkways should have the following characteristics:

• Minimum Tread width: 2 m • Tread surface: compacted stone fines, P.I.P concrete or concrete brick, asphalt

should be used where appropriate • Buffer width: 1.0 m on each side of the trail should be planted with native

vegetation to beautify the trail • Total Minimum Right of Way: 3 m • Gradient: maximum 10% grade but the lowest grade possible should be achieved

to ensure universal access • Optimum cross slope 1 - 2% for drainage • Chain link fences should be used where appropriate to protect private property


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5.3 Bicycle Commuter Lanes Commuter bicycle lanes should be provided along existing roadways to provide a safe area for cyclists (as per TAC standards).

Figure 4.5.4 Hiking Trail 4.5.4 Hiking Trails Hiking trails are the most economical type of trail and can be used by a wide range of users. These are usually in large wooded areas such as the Heritage Forest and the Trails development. They should have the following characteristics:

• Tread width: variable • Tread surface: natural surface, wood chips or stone fines. • Buffer width: 0.5 - 1.0 m on each side of the trail • Gradient: variable • Optimum cross slope 1 - 2% for drainage


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4.6 Trail and Greenway Implementation The following section describes the various trails and recommends improvements. 4.6.1 West Sechelt to Sechelt Connection A dedicated trail from West Sechelt to the Downtown Village would allow West Sechelt residents to walk to work and school. It would provide a safe, peaceful walking alternative for the many non-motorized commuters who currently use the highway as their route. As the school district decreases its level of bus service to students in the West Sechelt area more children will be forced to walk along the highway unless a trail is developed as an alternative. An informal hiking trail already exists between the two areas along the SCRD waterline RoW. The trail has been cleared and used by local residents, many of them students of Chatelech Secondary School. This trail is designated in the OCP and West Sechelt Neighbourhood Plan and should be developed as a multi use trail or shared use trail standard in conjunction with the development of the Sangara and Clayton properties.

Implementation

• Trails should be developed as multi use or shared trail and formally dedicated at the time of subdivision of DL 4295A, DL 1384, and DL 1385

• The District could contact and develop agreements with the landowners as required

• The trail should be surveyed to ensure that it lies on the SCRD waterline easement

4.6.2 Wilson Creek to Village Connection A dedicated walking/cycling trail from Davis Bay to the Downtown Village is necessary to encourage pedestrian and cyclists. Most pedestrians and cyclists use the Sunshine Coast Highway which is extremely dangerous. The Ministry of Highways/District of Sechelt Highway 101 upgrade from the conveyor belt to Wilson Creek includes a dedicated sidewalk for pedestrians and cyclists. This project will not be commenced until 2008. 4.6.3 Sinku Drive Sinku Drive runs along the Trial Bay waterfront through Indian Band Lands between the Boulevard in the District and a beach opposite the Band’s marina. Between the end of Sinku Drive and the boat launch ramp there is no trail and pedestrians can traverse a small beach to the boat launch where an access road links to Selma Park Road and Highway 101.


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Implementation

In order to complete this trail so that cyclists and pedestrians will use it more often the following actions must be taken: • The District of Sechelt should initiate a joint project with the SIB. • Signage could be installed at entrances to the trail and

periodically along the length of the trail. • Eventually, a crusher dust or asphalt path connecting the end of

Sinku Drive to the boat launch should be constructed. This trail connection may involve cutting a trail through the forested area behind the beach or building a breakwater along the length of the beach. Due to the extremely high cost of constructing a breakwater it is recommended that a trail be cut through the adjacent land.

4.6.4 Downtown Walking Path The District of Sechelt Trail Committee has researched and proposed a plan for a trail network that will accommodate pedestrians and cyclists through the Downtown Village. It will encourage residents and tourists to shop, and to visit the Trail Bay Boulevard, Snickett Park, the Sechelt Marsh, and a number of other areas. The route travels along the current road and trail system passing mostly through smaller streets and pathways. This is illustrated on Map 5.

Implementation In order to complete this path the following actions must be taken:

• The route should be checked to ensure that it lies exclusively on public Rights of Way

• The trail committee should liaise with the downtown revitalization committee to discuss signage and route

• A system of signage should be designed and installed along the routes

• The route should be beautified by planting native vegetation

4.6.5 Village to East Porpoise Bay Trail Connecting Sechelt to East Porpoise Bay with a multi-use pathway will provide an important linkage between the two neighborhoods. It will also be an important linkage for the many touring cyclists who camp at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park. The pathway should begin near the Sechelt Marsh at Osprey Street and continue to the end of


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Osprey Street where a trail exists along the waterfront of the SIGD lands. (This pathway already exists but it is in disrepair and would require some clearing to make it more accessible.) This trail could then link with the Meandering Trail in East Porpoise Bay by a bike lane along Sechelt Inlet Road.

Implementation • The District of Sechelt should make contact and cooperate with the

SIGD through the Trail Committee • Signage should be installed at entrances to the route and periodically

along the length of the trail • The trail section should be widened and improved through the Band

Lands • A dedicated bicycle lane should be constructed on Sechelt Inlet Road

4.6.6 Meandering Trail The Meandering Trail has been constructed adjacent to Sechelt Inlet Road between Allen Road and Marmot Drive. The trail is approximately 1.5 m wide and has been constructed through private property with permission of the landowners and winds through standing trees. The meandering nature of the trail makes it an interesting pedestrian path, but limits its usefulness as a cycling trail. In order to make the trail accessible to cyclists it must be widened, and straightened and come as close as possible to the specifications for a Multi-use trail.

Implementation • Landowners should be contacted to get permission for use of the land• The trail should be completed • Signage should be installed at a number of entrances to the trail and

along the length of the trail

4.6.7 East Porpoise Bay Esplanade An historic road Right of Way (esplanade) exists along the waterfront in East Porpoise Bay between Allen Road and Burnett Road. In order to make use of this feature access should be constructed along Yew Road.


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Implementation • Access should be constructed

4.6.8 Sechelt Inlet Road Bicycle Path (Sandy Hook) A bicycle path should be constructed along Sechelt Inlet Road from the East Porpoise Bay Provincial Park to the Heritage Forest as part of the Silverback development.

Implementation • A bicycle path should be included in any road upgrade

associated with the Silverback development. 4.6.9 Sechelt Heritage Forest Trail This bike path is proposed on Sechelt Inlet Road to link the proposed Sechelt Inlet Road Bicycle Path at the Silverback development to the Sechelt Gray Forest Service Road 7575 Branch 9 (Jackson Log Sort Road).

Implementation • The trail should be planned with the help of local volunteers • Signage should be installed at entrances to the trail and

periodically along the length of the trail.

4.6.10 Sandy Hook Cycling/Pedestrian Route (Porpoise Drive/Tillicum Bay Road) This Route should be marked and signed for use as a cycling/pedestrian route. The route would begin at the Sechelt Heritage Forest Trail and Forest Road. From the south it would then turn right onto Skookumchuk Road, right on Deerhorn Drive, left on Sandy Hook Road, right down Klahanie Drive, and right onto Porpoise Drive. The route would then follow along Porpoise Drive and connect to Tillicum Bay Road via the Davis Brook Path. (See Davis Brook Path below) Due to the many turns in this area it will be essential to have highly visible signage in place.

Implementation • Signage should be installed at entrances to the route and

periodically along the length of the route.


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4.6.11 Sandy Hook to Tuwanek Connector Trail This trail should be constructed from Tillicum Bay Road through DL. 1410 to Sechelt Inlet Road. Public right of ways should be acquired for the trail as the area is subdivided. This section would create a recreational walking/cycling path between Tuwanek and Sandy Hook.

Implementation • Right of Ways should be acquired at time of subdivision through

DL. 1410 • A trail should be constructed to Shared Use Standard • Signage should be installed at the ends of the trail and

periodically along the length of the trail

4.6.12 Davis Brook Path Currently there is no direct connection between Tillicum Bay Road and Porpoise Drive in Sandy Hook. Pedestrians and cyclists must detour via Sechelt Inlet Road and around to get from Tillicum Bay Road to Porpoise Drive. An unopened road right of way connects the two roads through the Davis Brook Ravine. The ravine is fairly steep and would require the construction of stairs and a bridge to cross the creek. This trail would give Tillicum Bay Road residents access to the sand beach that is located at the bottom of the Davis Brook beach access.

Implementation • The trail should be planned and budgeted including stairs and a

bridge. • Signage should be installed at entrances to the trail

4.6.13 West Sechelt to Kinnikinnick Park An informal trail currently exists between West Sechelt and Kinnikinnick Park and is used by a variety of users and provides an important link between West Porpoise Bay and West Sechelt. Currently the trail trespasses across private lands and has problems with drainage particularly in the area of Ripple Way This trail should be protected by rights of way when land is developed.


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Implementation • A pedestrian RoW should be acquired by the District • Trail should be cleared and enhanced • Signage should be installed

4.6.14 Downtown Village to Kinnikinnick Park Bicycle Path Connection A dedicated bicycle path should be completed to link the Downtown Village to Kinnikinnick Park in West Porpoise Bay along Trail Avenue/Reef Road/Shoal Way/Lighthouse Avenue. Currently there is a paved bike path along part of this route but it is not complete.

Implementation • A bicycle path should be constructed along the route shown on Map

V. • Signage should be installed

4.6.15 Chapman Creek Trail Chapman Creek currently contains many trails of varying widths and level of difficulty in lower Chapman Creek and upper Chapman Creek. Along the lower section of the trail a local carver has installed wooden gnome figurines throughout the forest. Hikers and mountain bikers of a variety of ages and ability levels use these trails. The lower trail runs from the Chapman Creek Bridge upstream approximately 2 km. An old tote road runs along the top of bank of upper Chapman Creek from Chapman Road to the Chapman River falls. Some parts of the lower Chapman Creek trail have fallen into disrepair in recent years and will need to be reconditioned and in some cases rebuilt or relocated. The trails also lack signage making them difficult to follow for visitors and first time users. The Trails Committee has identified the lower section of trail (The Gnome Trail) as an important part of the trail system and recommends that it be promoted as an attraction. The public awareness initiative for this trail could include installation of an informative sign at the trailhead. The sign should contain a map of the local trails and information about the gnomes.


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Implementation • Designate the Crown Land portions of the Chapman Creek corridor as

a UREP Reserve. (Use for Recreation and Enjoyment of the Public) • Trail maintenance and construction should be performed by the

District or an Adopt-a-Trail group to increase the quantity and quality of trails in the park

• The artist who created to the gnomes should be contacted before signs are designed

• Signage should be created and installed at a number of entrances to the trail and along the length of the trail

4.6.16 Hidden Grove DL 3006 (Sandy Hook) The Hidden Grove is a forested area adjacent to the Heritage Forest in Sandy Hook. The area is presently under tenure to the Sechelt Community Forest. In 2003 the District of Sechelt in partnership with the Sandy Hook Ratepayers Association prepared a park plan and submitted an application for a Crown Grant for the Hidden Grove. This application was rejected. A number of hiking trails have been constructed by local residents.

Implementation The recreational and environmental attributes of the Hidden Grove area should be identified in the Forest Development Plans of the Sechelt Community Forest. Where possible the recreational attributes shall be developed and managed including trails and environmental interpretation of old growth trees.


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4.7 Signage A successful trail system must be easily recognizable and provide accurate direction to its users. With this in mind the following signage strategy should be implemented. The District of Sechelt should plan and install a comprehensive and uniform level of signage on all trails in the District. This will enhance the safety of trail users, vehicles, and property; improve travel within and between local areas; and professionalize and promote the trail system. Through research and discussion the Trail Committee has decided upon a system of signage that will be both effective and economical. Trail signage will include two large general signs, a number of smaller directional and trail marker signs and bicycle path signs. 4.7.1 Large General Signs At least 2 large informative signs should be strategically located including a map of all trails, beach accesses and parks in the District. These signs could be installed at the Davis Bay Walkway and the Trail Bay walkway. These signs are to inform visitors and residents of all the recreational areas available in the District. These signs should also make reference to the beach access brochure and trail maps that are available and how to access them. The following signage used on the PoCo trail system in Port Coquitlam has been selected by the trail committee as a guide for designing signage for the District of Sechelt. Figure 4.7.1 illustrates the Port Coquitlam Trail Sign by Folia Industries. 4.7.2 Directional and Trail Marker Signs A number of smaller directional and trail marker signs should also be used throughout the trail system to guide users along the trail. The trail committee has proposed that the following system of signage be adopted for this purpose. Paths through urban areas and along asphalt or concrete paths should be marked with carvings or logos painted onto the trail surface. A logo to be used throughout the trail system should be designed and application initiated as soon as the trail is designated.


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Non-asphalt paths should be marked with the signs pictured below. These signs are very economical and inform users of what trail they are on and how far along they are using a colour scheme and carved numbers. Directional signs should also be installed at intersections along the route. These signs will vary depending on the location and type of trail but should clearly show users which direction to follow.

Figure 4.7.2 Trail Markers for Non-Urban Paths


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4.7.3 Bicycle Path Signage The following are examples of signage that could be installed along bicycle paths as they are constructed.

Figure 4.7.3 Bicycle path signage 4.8 Partners in Trail Development Residents can provide knowledge in terms of identifying paths or routes that are used to travel in and around their neighbourhoods or through areas that are currently undeveloped. That knowledge should be tapped through the Trail Committee as the District embarks on more extensive trail development. After the trail is planned a variety of organizations and neighbourhood associations would likely volunteer labour to construct all or part of a trail of interest to them. There may also be opportunities to raise funds for trail building through a “Build-a-Kilometer” type campaign similar to the one undertaken for the Trans-Canada Trail. The District may also involve residents in building and maintaining trails through the “Adopt-a-Trail” program. 4.9 Conclusion This Trails and Greenway Strategy provides a system of trails for the District. As new residential neighborhoods develop additional trails should be dedicated and constructed to achieve the goals of this plan. It is recommended that the Trail Committee continue to meet regularly to develop additional trails and greenways throughout the District.


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5.Beach Access Strategy

5.1 Introduction Beach accesses are distributed along the waterfront throughout the District of Sechelt providing access to the waterfront for residents and visitors (See Map II). Public beach access points are very important to District residents who use them to access fishing, swimming beaches, small craft launching areas and for ocean-side strolling. These accesses ensure that residents of the District have access to the coastline. Beach accesses have been developed by the District Public Works Department along Right of Ways that have been taken as part of the subdivision approval process. Pursuant to the land Title Act subdivision requirements the rights of way have been dedicated along the waterfront a minimum of every 200 m in urban areas and every 400 m in rural areas. Many of these RoWs have been cleared and walking trails have been constructed. However, there are a number of areas that do not have sufficient beach access since trails have not been opened. To ensure that local residents and visitors can use the waterfront, it is vital that accesses are made available to a wide range of users. Accessibility concerns of local residents should be taken into account when constructing beach accesses. Sechelt has an increasing population of seniors who require easily accessible beach accesses. To ensure that beach accesses are usable for all residents, steep accesses should be equipped with stairs, handrails and other safety equipment as needed.


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5.2 Beach Access Inventory In order to determine where beach accesses are required it was first necessary to prepare a complete inventory of the existing Beach Accesses. The following table is an inventory of all of the beach access RoWs that currently exist in the District of Sechelt from an information brochure prepared by the District’s Public Works Department. The column “Brochure #” indicates what number each beach access has been assigned in the Public Works Beach Access Brochure. Table 5.1 Beach Accesses Inventory District of Sechelt Public Works Dept. (see map 7) Beach Access # Brochure # Location Area Status

1 1 7287 Annex Rd. and Redrooffs West Sechelt Open 2 Sergeant Rd. and Highway West Sechelt Unopened3 Young Rd. and Dale West Sechelt Unopened4 2 Dale Rd. at Hill Rd. West Sechelt Open 5 Leanne Rd and Highway West Sechelt Open 6 Sea Fiddler Rd. West Sechelt Open 7 Trail Island Drive West Sechelt Unopened8 Lewarne Road, 6787 Highway 101 West Sechelt Unopened9 3 Lawson Rd West Sechelt Open

10 Below DL. 2338 West Sechelt Unopened11 Eastern edge of DL. 2338 West Sechelt Unopened12 Wakefield Rd. West Sechelt Open 13 Mason Rd. West Sechelt Open 14 Between Mason Rd. and McCourt West Sechelt Unopened15 4 McCourt Rd. West Sechelt Open 16 Mills Rd. West Sechelt Unopened17 Derby Rd. West Sechelt Unopened18 Granite Rd. West Sechelt Unopened19 West of Camden Rd. West Sechelt Unopened20 5 Camden Rd. Village Open 21 6 Shorncliffe Ave. Village Open 22 6 Ocean Ave. Village Open 23 6 Trail Ave. Village Open 24 6 Inlet Ave. Village Open 25 6 Wharf Rd. Village Open 26 Gale Ave. North and Walkway near Shoreline Place W. Porpoise Unopened27 12 Gale Ave. North W. of Highmoor Rd. W. Porpoise Open 28 Gale Ave. North E. of Rimrock Rd. Btw lot 28 and 29 W. Porpoise Unopened29 Gale Ave. North W. of Fairway Ave. W. Porpoise 30 11 Chelsea Place and Gale Ave. North (6308) W. Porpoise Open 31 Heritage Rd. at Park W. Porpoise Open 32 West of Harbour Way at Park W. Porpoise Open 33 Ripple Way W. Porpoise Unopened


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34 Shoal Way Village (Inlet) Open 35 Spray Str. Village (Inlet) Open 36 Marine Way at Ref 13404 Village (Inlet) Unopened37 Anchor Rd. at Gov't wharf Village (Inlet) Open 38 Osprey Between lot 20 and 21 Village (Inlet) Open 39 Delta Rd. at Sechelt Inlet Rd. E. Porpoise Bay Unopened40 Sechelt Inlet Rd. beside lot 20 E. Porpoise Bay Unopened41 Kontiki Rd. E. Porpoise Bay Open 42 Dusty Rd. E. Porpoise Bay Unopened43 13 Allen Rd. off Sechelt Inlet Rd. E. Porpoise Bay Open 44 Yew Rd. at Park E. Porpoise Bay Unopened45 Burnett Rd. E. Porpoise Bay Open 46 15 Heron Rd. E. Porpoise Bay Open 47 16 Marmot Rd. E. Porpoise Bay Open 48 N. edge of Porpoise Bay Prov. Park E. Porpoise Bay Unopened49 Selma Park Rd. Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Open 50 S. of Selma Park Rd. and Highway Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Unopened51 7 Snodgrass Rd. Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Open 52 Highway Between lot 32 and 33 Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Unopened53 Below Nestman Rd. Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Unopened54 Havies Rd. (between lots 7 and 8) Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Unopened55 Heather Rd. Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Unopened56 Chapman Rd. Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Unopened57 N. of Bay Rd. Btw lot 10 and 1 Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Unopened58 8 S. of Bay Rd. at N. edge of Davis Bay Beach Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Open 59 8 Davis Bay Rd. at Davis Bay Beach Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Open 60 8 Westly Rd. at Davis Bay Beach Selma P./D.B./W. Cr. Open 61 Beneath Field Rd. at Wilson Creek Selma P./D.B./W.Cr. Unopened62 John Rd. Selma P./D.B./W.Cr. Unopened63 9 Paul Rd. off Browning Rd. Selma P./D.B./W.Cr. Open 64 10 Jack Rd. off Browning Rd. Selma P./D.B./W.Cr. Open 65 Coracle Drive beside lot 45 Sandy Hook Unopened66 Fish Hook Sandy Hook Open 67 Arc Rd. Sandy Hook Open 68 Prawn Way Sandy Hook Open 69 17 Davis Brook at Porpoise Drive Sandy Hook Open 70 Walkway off Tillicum Bay Rd. between lot 11 and 12 Sandy Hook Unopened71 Tillicum Bay Rd. beside Lot 1 Sandy Hook Open 72 Below Naylor Rd. next to DL. 1410 Sandy Hook Unopened73 N. edge of DL. 1410 Tuwanek Unopened74 Sechelt Inlet Rd. Between lot 5 and 6 Tuwanek Open 75 Islets Place in front of Lot 11 Tuwanek Open 76 N. end of Islets Place Tuwanek Unopened

For a more detailed description of the existing beach access RoWs in the District refer to the report The Roads to the Shore (1995) (6350-70/ RSHO 1995).


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5.3 Priority Areas for Beach Access Development Priority areas for beach access development have been selected based on the following criteria:

1. lack of access for local residents 2. accessibility of terrain 3. quality of waterfront 4. level of difficulty to open

Highly developed areas that do not have beach access at least every 300 m are a high priority for development. In order to identify beach access deficient areas Map II was created. This map identifies areas within the District where beach accesses should be acquired at the time of development. If the areas have a large residential population the area is deemed a high priority for beach access development. The proposed timing of development of each access is given as Short term (2003 to 2007), Medium term (2008 to 2012) and Long term (2013 to 2021). Specific timeframes have not been included for some recommendations as priorities may shift due to budgeting issues and other uncertainties. In the event that an action plan is not implemented within the proposed timeframe, it may become a higher priority within the next timeframe (e.g., from a medium priority in the short term to a high priority in the medium term). It is important that the District regularly monitors and updates the Beach Access Strategy. Currently the parks budget does not appropriate specific funds to the development of beach accesses, however, Public Works does. Considering the importance that local residents place on their ability to use waterfront areas and the high usage beach accesses receive (the phone survey results show that 63% of residents use beach accesses at least once a month) it is recommended that the parks budget is expanded to ensure that three or four beach accesses are developed each year. Additionally, many of the easy-to-open beach accesses have already been constructed. In order to provide adequate access to the waterfront for all District residents some of the more costly-to-construct accesses will have to be developed. This will require an increased budget to accommodate material and labour costs. An approximate budget for developing each beach access has also been included for each recommendation. 5.3.1 Selma Park/Davis Bay/Wilson Creek The waterfront from Nestman Rd. to Chapman Rd. currently has no beach accesses. This is especially problematic since the area has a large residential population. Due to the steep terrain in this area and the long distance from the road to the beach these beach accesses will require significant funding to develop trails that are accessible to all residents.


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The following Beach Access Trails are proposed for development:

• Nestman Road (53): This access is approximately 200 m long. It

should be fairly easy to open and has attractive waterfront. Timing: Short term Priority: High

• Heather Road (55): This access is approximately 200 m long and has a fairly steep slope.

Timing: Short term Priority: High

• Chapman Road (56): This access is approximately 150 m long and has an excellent beach.

Timing: Short term Priority: Medium

• Havies Road (between lot 7 and 8) (54): This access is approximately 200 m long and is steep.

Timing: Medium term Priority: Medium

• Benner Road (between lots 15 and 5) (50): This access is approximately 150 m long, is steeply sloped and has an excellent pebble beach.

Timing: Long term Priority: Medium

5.3.2 West Sechelt The waterfront at the Eastern edge of West Sechelt from Mills Rd. to Norwest Bay Rd. lacks adequate beach accesses. The lack of access combined with high-density residential areas and an expanding population makes this area a very high priority for beach access development.


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• Derby Road (17): This access is approximately 150 m long and is steeply

sloped. Timeline: Short term Priority: Medium

• Granite Road near Norwest Bay (18): This access has a good trail leading to an undeveloped waterfront. It requires signage and it should be checked to ensure the trail is on the RoW.

Timing: Short term (will be opened 2003) Priority: High

• Gowland Road (11): This access is approximately 30 m long and requires signage.


• Lewarne Road (8): This access is approximately 70 m long and is already opened, it requires signage.

Timing: Short term Priority: Low

• Highway 101 Below DL. 2338 (10): This access is approximately 30 m long.

Timing: Medium term (this access will be required when DL. 2338 is developed) Priority: Medium

• Trail Island Drive (7): This access is approximately 30 m long. Timing: Medium term Priority: Medium

5.3.3 Sandy Hook The residents of Sandy Hook are fairly well served by beach accesses. However, as this area continues to develop it will be necessary to open more accesses to accommodate the additional population.


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• Coracle Drive (65): This access is approximately 150 m long and is not

steep. It ends at a sheltered waterfront Timeline: Short term Priority: Medium

• Tillicum Bay Road (71): This access has a steep trail leading to a small beach. It requires signage and it should be checked to ensure the trail is on the RoW.


• Tillicum Bay Road (70): This access will be opened in 2003 Timing: Short term Priority: Low

5.3.4 West Porpoise Bay The waterfront in West Porpoise Bay already contains a number of beach accesses and it is not densely developed. However, as residential development intensifies the area will require more access points.

Beach Access trails should be opened at one of the following locations:

• Gale Ave. North E. of Rimrock Rd. Between lot 28 and 29 (28): This

access is about 150 m long and will likely require the use of stairs in some areas due to the steep slope.


• Gale Ave. North W. of Fairway Ave. Beside lot 56 (26): Timing: Short term Priority: High

• Ripple Way (33): This access should be constructed when DL. 1509 is developed.

Timing: Long Priority: Low


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5.3.5 East Porpoise Bay East Porpoise Bay has five open beach access that provide good access for the residents. Beach accesses are easy to develop in this area and are highly accessible due to the flat terrain.

Beach Access trails should be opened at:

• Yew Road: This access is approximately 70 m long and has a low

slope. Timing: Medium term

Priority: Medium

5.3.6 Tuwanek Tuwanek currently has two open beach accesses that are very well used. As development continues it will be necessary to construct additional beach accesses. Beach Access trails should be opened at:

• Gray Creek (73): This access is approximately 400 m long and runs

beside Gray Creek. The waterfront has nice sandy beach. This access should be developed concurrent with development of DL. 1410.

Timing: Long term Priority: Low

• Carmel Place (76): This access is approximately 150 m long. Timing: Long term (Should be constructed as DL. 3259 is developed) Priority: Low

5.3.7 Village The Village is very well served by beach accesses. All of the acquired right-of-ways have been opened.


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5.4 Future Right of Way Dedication It is important that the District of Sechelt select the best possible areas of waterfront to construct beach accesses. Too often in the past, very steep accesses with little or no waterfront have been designated as RoW. When beach access Right of Ways are designated at the time of subdivision they should be carefully selected. To encourage optimum use, beach accesses RoWs should have the following characteristics:

• Low slope: Use of low slope areas decreases safety concerns and construction costs and increases accessibility for a variety of users.

• Sandy or small pebble beaches: Sandy or small pebble beaches are quit rare on the coast, where they exist they should be made available to the public.

• Adjacent to streams or creeks (where possible): Locating beach accesses along streams or creeks creates a more attractive trail and results in a wider green area due to development setbacks along the creek.

• Island in front of beach area: Beaches that have small rocky islands nearby provide a more scenic beach and allow people to swim out to the islands.

In order to locate the optimum locations for beach access RoWs, an evaluation of the coastline in future development areas was completed. The evaluation involved walking the length of the coast to locate areas that would be useful as beach accesses. Based on this evaluation and requirements of the Land Title Act, areas that are suitable for beach access development were selected. The Beach Access Map II displays the findings of the evaluation. 5.5 Public Awareness In order to encourage use of beach accesses local residents must be made aware of their location. At the time of this report there is no publicly available brochure or map that describes the location of beach accesses. This lack of advertising significantly decreases the number of potential users of this resource. In order to remedy this problem a public awareness campaign should be initiated. To increase public awareness the following measures are recommended:

5.5.1 Beach Access Brochure A beach access brochure has been completed that contains a description of all beach accesses including level of difficulty. The brochure should also contains a map showing the location of all completed beach accesses. The brochure should be available for purchase at the District of Sechelt counter and at visitors centers. 5.5.2 Web Page The District of Sechelt web page includes a beach access page that contains information similar to the Beach Access Brochure.


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5.5.3 Signage On Site Signage Appropriate, high-visibility signage is erected at all beach accesses at both the road and waterfront side. It is important that signage is erected at the waterfront so that people walking along the beach will be able to differentiate between public and private accesses when trying to return to the road.

Signage should be standardized for the entire District of Sechelt in order to avoid confusion and achieve consistency throughout. However, a number of communities have chosen to create their own unique signs. This gives each beach access a unique look and fosters community stewardship for the trail. However, unique signs should always be used in combination with a standard sign to avoid confusion.

Through public consultations it has been noted that the signs currently in use at beach accesses are not visible enough. In order to increase awareness of beach accesses it is important that larger signs are installed along the highway.

General Signage The large informative signs that will be installed at Davis Bay and Snickett Park as detailed in the Trail Strategy (section should include general information about beach accesses and a map showing the location of all open beach accesses in the District.

5.5.4 Parking Vehicular on street parking at head of beach access points.


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6. Partnerships

6.1 Introduction The District of Sechelt is involved in informal partnerships with community groups and government organizations. These partnerships benefit the district and its partner organizations from a financial perspective through sharing of equipment and expertise. Effective partnerships also increase the level of service and quality of facilities available in parks and open spaces. It is recommended that the District of Sechelt continue to expand its partnerships by working with community groups, conservation groups, continuing inter-organization cooperation and initiating the Adopt-a-Park, Trail or Beach Access program and the School District Volunteer program. 6.2 Community Groups Many community groups contribute to park and open space areas in the District of Sechelt. Examples would be the washrooms built at the Davis Bay Seawall by the Rotary Club and the Sandy Hook Community Association maintaining trails and parks. Community-based park and trail groups help foster community spirit, increase public knowledge of park resources, and increase the level and number of resources available to the whole community. Supplying these groups with the equipment and guidance they require can be time consuming for District employees. However, as the groups grow and become more self-sufficient they should free up time for District employees to work on more specialized projects. Effective community groups will also increase the quality and quantity of parks and trails in the District. For these reasons relationships with community groups should be encouraged in the future.


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6.3 Conservation Groups The District of Sechelt could enter into partnerships with conservation groups who are interested in protecting natural areas. There are a multitude of conservation groups in B.C. who are working and raising money towards protection of important natural areas. (The Sechelt Marsh Society is an example of a local organization responsible for the development of a natural area.) Partnerships could include expense sharing for purchasing natural areas, maintenance and restoration agreements, fundraising campaigns and information sharing. These partnerships could also be useful when negotiating with private property owners and government organizations for acquisition of property. Groups should be contacted as individual natural areas are proposed and working relationships should be fostered on an ongoing basis. Some examples of conservation groups currently operating in B.C. are Nature Conservancy of Canada, Habitat Acquisition Trust and Ecotrust Canada. A regularly updated list of conservation organizations is available from Conservation Connections at www.conservationconnection.bc.ca. 6.4 Inter-organization Cooperation The District of Sechelt currently cooperates with a number of organizations including the Sunshine Coast Regional District, Sechelt Indian Band, Town of Gibsons and School District 46. These partnerships are informal in nature and involve sharing of equipment and expertise between the organizations. Meetings between maintenance staff are held quarterly to discuss the needs of each organization. This exchange accrues financial savings to all partners and enhances parks and open spaces throughout the district. The District should encourage this inter-organizational approach to park and open space development and maintenance. As this type of cooperation continues into the future it may be necessary to develop a method of recording to ensure that it is an equitable relationship. Recording of this activity could be achieved with a simple database system that would keep track of equipment sharing and staff time expended on inter-organizational projects. 6.5 Adopt a Park, Trail or Beach Access The District of Sechelt could institute an Adopt-a-Park program that would allow private citizens or community groups to adopt parks, trails or beach accesses. Adopting groups must commit for at least one year and are encouraged to work at their park at least once a month. Volunteers are responsible for a variety of tasks depending upon the area adopted and their agreement with the District.

http://www.conservationconnection.bc.ca/GroupView.asp?GroupID=54




http://www.conservationconnection.bc.ca/


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This program will improve the quality of parks, trails and beach accesses in the District while encouraging public awareness, involvement and stewardship of parks. Initiating this program will not necessarily decrease the number of employees required for park maintenance and development. Rather, the program will shift the focus of parks employees slightly to include an educational role. Parks workers will assume the role of training and helping the program participants in their duties. Who can adopt a park, trail or beach access? This program aims to unite and support all people interested in improving District of Sechelt parks and open spaces. Volunteers could include:

• Individuals • Neighborhood associations • Schools • Businesses • Church groups • Youth groups • User groups

What can be adopted? Particular areas that may be adopted include:

• Sports fields • Beach Accesses • Flower beds • Trees and shrubs • Playgrounds • Courts • Trails • Natural Areas

How can volunteers help?

• Picking up litter • Identifying vegetation • Sweeping courts and pathways • Gardening • Raking leaves • Clearing trails • Caring for trees • Reporting park hazard


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How does someone adopt a park, trail or beach access?

1. They must contact the District of Sechelt parks department with a request to adopt all or part of a park, trail or beach access.

2. Sign and return the required forms. 3. District staff should process the forms and contact the adopter. 4. District staff should train the participant to do the tasks for which they have

volunteered.

What are volunteers responsible for?

• Volunteers are required to maintain their adopted park, trail or beach access for at least one year. Volunteers should be encouraged to work at their park at least once a month. Volunteers make up their own schedules.

• Volunteers must abide by all park rules and ordinances. • Volunteers must notify District parks staff to change specific volunteer duties. • Volunteers must notify staff when resigning. • Volunteers must return all supplies upon resignation. • Volunteers must keep track of the number of hours spent volunteering on a

monthly basis and report total hours to Parks staff. The District should use this information to tabulate total yearly hours to help program in the following ways:

o Justifying the need for more tools and supplies when submitting reports to Council.

o Account for total donated time to the City for annual reports. o Confirms the growth or decline in volunteer participation. o Assist students that are required to perform community service hours. o Help the District determine how to award volunteer awards and give

recognition. District Support The District of Sechelt should provide the adopters with tools and supplies to assist in their duties. Acknowledgement & Recognition Adopters should receive:

• an official Certificate of Adoption • an Adopt-A-Park, Trail or Beach Access T-shirt • an invitation to an Annual Recognition Event

6.6 School District Volunteer Program


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An apprenticeship like program could be developed with School District 46 which could include a Sports/Facility Stewardship Program, an Environmental Stewardship Program and a Horticulture Program. Sports/Facility Stewardship Program This project would be a leadership project for grade 12 students. The student would be given the responsibility of coordinating and facilitating sports programs for younger children on the sport of their choice on their day off. Activities could range from soccer to hiking to skateboarding to various arena-based programs and just about anything else that a student was willing to take on. In addition to playing and practicing the chosen sport participants would also be expected to act as stewards of the facility they are using and spend some of the organized time doing maintenance, trail building (for hiking or mountain biking groups) and clean up. For instance participants of a skateboard program would be responsible for sweeping and general maintenance of the skateboard park. Students would require teacher mentors to advise on leadership skills, activities, etc. One way this could be achieved would be to incorporate the program into a grade 12 PE class. This program would give students something to do on their day off, give students leadership experience, increase the level of fitness and activity of all participants, and increase community involvement in parks and recreation. Also the hours that students spend on these activities can be put towards the volunteer hours that they require to graduate. Environmental Stewardship Program This project will function along the same principles as the first program but it will be environmentally based. The target group for this program will be Biology students. The program would involve students working in conjunction with the District of Sechelt to enhance and restore the natural environment. Training will be provided by the District of Sechelt and then students will be expected to perform a variety of tasks such as: vegetation inventories, restoration, etc. This program will provide students with valuable experience and fieldwork skills that could help them in the future. Students will also earn volunteer hours toward graduation. Horticulture Program A horticulture program would help participants learn the required skills before entering a post secondary horticulture school. It will also help job placement possibilities in golf course, municipal, and landscape contractors.


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CONCLUSION The Parks and Open Space Master Plan is a comprehensive Strategy to guide the long term development of the District of Sechelt’s Parks, Open Space and Trails. It is intended that the Plan be used by the Planning Department and the Parks and Recreation Department to prioritize and budget for capital works projects on an annual bases. The Plan should be used as a guide for such committees as the Green Way Committee, the Downtown Revitalization Committee and user groups in the community.

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