While work is underway to construct Quarry Park, a new public recreation space in the Latoria South area of Royal Bay, the City of Colwood already has designs on expanding the area to include more much needed facilities.
If endorsed by council, Quarry Park could be expanded to include a synthetic turf field, community centre and a flexible playing field space, which would bring "substantial recreational and social benefits" to the community.
“Quarry Park expansion represents a significant investment in community infrastructure, with a total estimated cost of $9,675,783,” said Matt Blakely, senior planner, at a meeting of the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee on Oct. 7.
The additional land would increase the size of Quary Park from 11.2 acres to just shy of 16 acres. However, according to the senior planner, the expansion plans hinge on the city acquiring two parcels of land adjacent to Quarry Park, which is currently being explored by council staff.
Phase one of Quarry Park, which sits adjacent to a site earmarked for a new elementary school, includes a bike park, a pedestrian plaza and playground. Construction of the new recreational facilities is expected to be completed in spring 2025.
"What an amazing park," said committee member Carol Brown. "The connectivity and opportunity for community recreation – it's going to be quite an opportunity."
While supportive of the plans, some committee members raised concerns about facilities for other sports, such as tennis and pickleball, not being included.
"The opportunity is here and now to put something in that can keep people in their community, rather than jumping in their car ... going all the way to West Shore Rec Centre," said committee member Kimberleigh Doyle, who highlighted these facilities are lacking in the Royal Bay area.
"It just seems like a real miss to leave that out when tennis and pickeball are sports people can play ... from a young child, all the way up," continued Doyle.
The need to include an off-leash dog park, which was included in earlier plans for Quarry Park but sidelined because of a lukewarm response to the idea during community engagement surveys, was also highlighted by Brown at the meeting.
"Royal Bay is growing and a lot of people are going to use this park for passive recreation – walking their dog," she said. "I know there are a lot of dogs in Royal Bay and there are going to be more. We don't have in this area an off-leash dog park."
At the meeting, committee members agreed to recommend to council they endorse the expansion plans, but instructed council staff to revise the plans to include an off-leash dog park and multi-purpose courts. If endorsed, council staff will proceed to draft an implementation and funding timeline.
