I am shocked and incensed that the CRD parks committee has voted in favour of raising parking fees at the Sooke Potholes regional park.
The Capital Regional District parks committee is recommending gradual hikes to the CRD board that parking fees at Sooke Potholes and Thetis Lake parks increase to $5 daily and $40 for the season in 2026, and $6 daily and $50 for the season in 2027. The daily increase from $2.25 to $6 represents an astounding increase of more than 200% in three years, arguably for “impacts on facilities or market changes”. The CRD board adopted the motion to recommend the increased rates with only Sooke Mayor Maja Tait in opposition.
As Tait and Juan de Fuca Director Al Wickheim aptly pointed out, it is just for two of the 33 parks operated by the CRD and specifically targets the Sooke Potholes Park. One of the main attractions of Sooke during the warm months, Sooke Potholes is one of the remaining few affordable places for families with children to spend the day. Indigenous Peoples from across the South Island come to swim in the Sooke River via the Potholes and asking them to pay is insulting and unnecessary. The Potholes are not accessible by transit and it’s more than five kilometres from the nearest bus stop on Highway 14.
I urge the CRD board to vote down this amendment and Bylaw 4640 and instead, work with BC Transit to implement a free seasonal electric shuttle bus to the Potholes from the Park n Ride lot at Sooke River Road that would reduce car emissions, reduce the need for parking lot increases, and bolster the District of Sooke’s ecotourism industry. Removing the parking fees at Sooke Potholes would be even better, especially when housing, food, and utility costs are at an all-time high.
It’s disappointing that the parks committee did not revoke the parking fees altogether, particularly with a looming tax increase to establish a service for regional coordination of biodiversity and environmental stewardship via Bylaw 4575 now going through the Alternative Approval Process. There are very few free or low-cost options for recreation in Sooke, especially if you don’t have a vehicle, and this is one small step the CRD board can take to ensure equal access to outdoor recreation and transit ridership.
Katherine Strongwind
Sooke
