Metro Vancouver (Canada) has big plans to protect a forested waterfront property at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island.
According to a report, the regional district announced Wednesday that it plans to create a new regional park with managed camping areas.
“I am really pleased, this land is really special from an ecological perspective, it has a lot of species that are unique to the region,” said David Hocking, a Metro Vancouver director and a Bowen Island municipal councilor.
The park plans to include supervised overnight camping areas, with over 50 walk-in/bike-in tent sites, 35 accessible drive-in tent sites, and ten tent cabins.
We really like the fact that it will be supervised camping and low-impact camping,” Hocking said.
“The problem with the area now is people are tempted to camp there (without supervision), and there is a high potential for forest fires and damages (to the area).”
Metro Vancouver has a conditional agreement for approximately CA$40 million to acquire 24 parcels of land, totaling 97 hectares, that will make up the new park, the district said.
“I am beyond thrilled to see the potential for a new regional park that will protect public access to spectacular coastal forest and beach landscapes for generations to come,” said John McEwen, chair of Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks Committee.
“With Metro Vancouver poised to welcome one million more residents in the next 30 years, and a significant increase in regional park visitation over the last two years, Cape Roger Curtis is a unique opportunity to help ensure all residents have access to regional parks.”
Metro Vancouver said they want to make the park more accessible to those people with no vehicles.
Although the announcement is fresh, Hocking admitted that he has talked with a few Bowen Island residents about their opinions about the new park.
“Everybody is saying ‘congratulations,’ ‘this is terrific,” said Hocking.
Metro Vancouver has started the park planning process. This involves submitting a request to the Bowen Island Municipality for rezoning the properties from rural residential to park and an amendment to the Official Community Plan.
The regional district also says it is working closely with the Skwxwú7mesh úxwumixw/Squamish Nation about the development and stewardship of the new park.
This story originally appeared on Global News.