Comox Valley Regional District seeks input on new nature park

A low angle image of a cobblestone beach, cutting between dense forest on the left and ocean on the right. Along the horizon above the ocean a mountain range peeks out of orange sky that fades up into blue. — Manager of Parks Mark Harrison calls the 45 acres of undeveloped second growth forest and cobblestone beach “incredible, generous donations.” Image provided by the CVRD.

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is asking the community for input on parks management plans for the new Maris Nature Park. Three plots of land have been donated to the community through the Canadian Ecological Gifts Program, and the CVRD is turning to the public for feedback on how to manage it.

Located next to Sarah and Brian McLoughlin Nature Park and the Eagles Greenway in Merville, the first two land parcels were donated by Christopher Investments in 2022, and at the start of 2025 an additional five acres were donated by Resolute North Holdings. The 45 acres fill a space with ocean on one side and a road dedication on the other, so the park is not likely to expand further.

The land donations were made through the Ecological Gifts Program run by Environment and Climate Change Canada, which CVRD Manager of Parks Mark Harrison explained.

“Those donors get a tax receipt, so there's kind of some financial incentive for them, and then at the same time they get to donate to the community. So we've got this 45 acres basically for free for the community, these amazing places. And what's amazing about them is that they're undeveloped. They're second-growth forest, so just incredible generous donations,” Harrison said.

Donations made through the Ecological Gifts Program are subject to careful management plans that require review and approval by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“We basically are holding those land pieces until we figure out what we're gonna do with them. Because under the Ecological Gift program, there are restrictions and basically we need to keep the ecological values because they've been donated to Environment and Climate Change Canada because they are sensitive in nature. And that's why you kind of get this tax benefit from them, because you're helping with climate change initiatives. That's the kind of thoughts there,” Harrison explained. “So, right now what we're trying to do is do our management planning so we can figure out what we are– what does the community want this park to be, or what kind of amenities would they like to see in the park, over in the short term and in the long term with the knowledge that there are restrictions for it. Like, it's gotta be primarily an ecologically based management plan for that park.”

Harrison said that the choice to involve the public is common for the CVRD, especially with larger parks which require a management plan. In this case the district is particularly interested in feedback from members of the local area: Electoral Area C.

“I think that we are always looking for community engagement. I think it's really, really important that we understand what the neighborhood, and what the community at large, wants to do at this park,” he said.

In terms of the feedback being collected, Harrison said the questions are mostly centred on vision. “You know, what do you see for this park in the long term? What are some of the amenities that you may want? Like do you wanna have, is it important for you to be able to access the water? Are you looking for a trail system?”

Other input could involve modes of transportation, to determine whether parking lots or bike paths are necessary for access. A broader issue is whether the land should be open for recreational use at all, or maintained as a protected habitat.

“I think it's just really important, especially in this day and age, that we all have an opportunity to provide input. I think it's great to kind of jump on that chance, especially if you live in that area, this could be one of your go-to neighborhood parks,” Harrison said. “So we'd really like to hear what is important for you. Do you want to see a trail system in there? Would you like maybe some benches for resting? Or would you like to just remain wild and just provide ecological values for wildlife? So those kind of things are, I think, really important for us to kind of know and understand what's important for the community.”

Harrison said that currently the new park is not open for public use, as there are no trails in place and the environmental values of the gift program need to be respected.

“We're hoping to conclude the management planning process by the end of this year. And then that will kind of give us an idea on park development pieces. So we can take that and then basically the management plan will give us some goals and objectives, and it'll also give us some actionable items to pursue. And some of that could be park development pieces, so at that point we can look at park development and if that's supported or even wanted by the community,” Harrison explained.

Opportunities to provide feedback are available both online at engagecomoxvalley.ca/maris, and in person at three upcoming events in the neighbouring area.

“We do have an open house this Saturday at the MARS wildlife as part of their open house that they're running this weekend. So we'll be there from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to collect information and we'll have paper surveys out there as well. And then we'll also be out at Eagle Drive Park on May 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. And then we'll also be at Sarah and Brian McLaughlin Nature Park, which is just adjacent to this Maris Nature Park on Sunday, May 25th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Harrison stated.

The online survey is available until May 30th, and is estimated to take about three to five minutes to complete.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. Reporting done in the Comox Valley is done in partnership with CVOX.