Save the Largest Remaining Natural Green Space in South Saanich

URGENT: Preserve Kings Road Park – the BC Hydro green space at 1843 Kings Road that is slated for sale, and is the largest remaining unprotected natural space in south Saanich.

To the Saanich Mayor and Council, Directors of the CRD and MLAs of British Columbia:

We the undersigned urge the city of Saanich to work with the Province and CRD to acquire this BC Hydro owned property, slated for imminent sale, and preserve the green space in its entirety as a municipal park.

This beautiful 5-acre green space is the largest remaining unprotected natural space in south Saanich and has been used by our community as a park for 68 years.

Hundreds of Saanich residents use the park-like green space daily to walk, bike, commute, play, rest and escape the increasingly dense urban setting within the Saanich Panhandle. Animal residents of the park include owls, falcons, hawks and a multitude of bird and pollinator species.

Bowker Creek runs through the park, lined with massive fir and cedar trees. A large field and floodplain serves as a watershed buffer for the creek, keeping the creek wet during times of drought while mitigating the risk of future flooding. The alluvial soil is high in organic matter, and its condition prevented the natural space from being developed into a parking lot and ambulance station in the 2000s. Beyond the geotechnical complications with building foundations, the soil condition facilitates site drainage, and development would place Bowker Creek at risk for further contamination.

Our local area of Saanich holds a deficit of neighbourhood park spaces (as stated on page 26 of our Shelbourne local area plan). As our local population continues to increase through rapid densification, natural green spaces become increasingly critical to preserve the physical, emotional and mental wellness of our residents. The preservation of Kings Road Park supports this need, while also protecting the environmental health of our region. Moreover, preserving this 5-acre green space helps Saanich meet its climate goals of carbon neutrality by creating and sustaining cool, absorbent landscapes, as noted in Saanich’s Climate Plan. Community gardens, community art installations, Bowker Creek educational opportunities are all ways in which our community envisions this beautiful green space being sustainably enjoyed by all.

Saanich considered purchasing the property in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, at this time BC Hydro was not interested in selling the property nor developing it, and so Saanich continued to enjoy the use of the Kings Park green space as parkland. Saanich currently maintains garbage collection and parking on both Kings Road and Haultain Street. Thus, many users mistake the Hydro owned green space as a Saanich municipal park.

We must not pit green space preservation against housing development. Progressive cities do both. They create more housing AND preserve green space as the number of residents increases. 21st century cities densify through suites, garden suites and town homes infilled on current housing sites, while they protect and expand green space to support the needs of a growing population.

As a community we are working to explore creative solutions to help Saanich acquire this green space, including applying for multiple municipal grants and seeking assistance from the CRD and Province to help preserve this shared green space.

We urge the Mayor and Council of Saanich to seize this once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire and preserve this incredible 5-acre urban green space for current and future generations of residents.

Let’s work together to create a progressive, sustainable and vibrant 21st century Saanich!