skifreak
10-21-2005, 05:30 PM
Just reading in the local paper today - some bad press from some unapproved trail building...
The article...
The Comox Valley Land Trust and City of Courtenay have agreed on measures to repair recent damage in Hurford Hill Nature Park, they say in a joint news release.
An unauthorized mountain bike trail with wooden structures and dirt hills has been constructed in the park, they say.
The structures include several bridges constructed from trees felled on the property and many dirt jumps consisting of earth dug from adjacent areas. At least 17 conifers 10 to 13 centimetres in diameter and at least two alder trees of 20 to 23 cm have been felled to construct the mountain bike trail.
There has also been extensive soil disturbance and damage to shrubs and groundcover plants.
Hurford Hill Nature Park was generously donated to the City of Courtenay by longtime Valley residents Roberts and Adela Smith with the intent that it be maintained as a nature park, the news release states.
A conservation covenant under the Land Title Act, held by the Comox Valley Land Trust, is registered against the park to protect it in perpetuity and to ensure that the intent of the donors is respected. The covenant prohibits felling trees, removal of native vegetation or disturbance of soil.
Nature parks such as Hurford Hill provide essential wildlife habitat within urban areas and allow residents to enjoy contact with nature, the release says.
The City of Courtenay maintains trails through Hurford Hill Park that are extensively used by walkers and cyclists. The construction of mountain bike trails involving destruction of trees and damage to soil and vegetation is not consistent with the maintenance of Hurford Hill as a nature park.
The mountain bike trail will be removed to comply with the terms of the conservation covenant. As well, access to the public from McPherson Place will be fenced off.
The Comox Valley Land Trust says it understands there is a need for this type of recreational activity and that youth would be impacted by the decision to remove the structures. The environmental impact on the park, however, must be considered to protect its value as a nature park and to satisfy the conditions of the legal covenant, states the CVLT.
The City says it would like to work with youth/adults to find alternate locations for the BMX activity, and welcomes any suggestions or
comments. Call Courtenay - Community Services Department at 334-4441 for further information.
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map here with the park near the middle...
http://www.city.courtenay.bc.ca/PDFs/community/city_map.pdf
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For the kids - since the mature builders I know in the valley wouldn't build there - please think before you dig...
The article...
The Comox Valley Land Trust and City of Courtenay have agreed on measures to repair recent damage in Hurford Hill Nature Park, they say in a joint news release.
An unauthorized mountain bike trail with wooden structures and dirt hills has been constructed in the park, they say.
The structures include several bridges constructed from trees felled on the property and many dirt jumps consisting of earth dug from adjacent areas. At least 17 conifers 10 to 13 centimetres in diameter and at least two alder trees of 20 to 23 cm have been felled to construct the mountain bike trail.
There has also been extensive soil disturbance and damage to shrubs and groundcover plants.
Hurford Hill Nature Park was generously donated to the City of Courtenay by longtime Valley residents Roberts and Adela Smith with the intent that it be maintained as a nature park, the news release states.
A conservation covenant under the Land Title Act, held by the Comox Valley Land Trust, is registered against the park to protect it in perpetuity and to ensure that the intent of the donors is respected. The covenant prohibits felling trees, removal of native vegetation or disturbance of soil.
Nature parks such as Hurford Hill provide essential wildlife habitat within urban areas and allow residents to enjoy contact with nature, the release says.
The City of Courtenay maintains trails through Hurford Hill Park that are extensively used by walkers and cyclists. The construction of mountain bike trails involving destruction of trees and damage to soil and vegetation is not consistent with the maintenance of Hurford Hill as a nature park.
The mountain bike trail will be removed to comply with the terms of the conservation covenant. As well, access to the public from McPherson Place will be fenced off.
The Comox Valley Land Trust says it understands there is a need for this type of recreational activity and that youth would be impacted by the decision to remove the structures. The environmental impact on the park, however, must be considered to protect its value as a nature park and to satisfy the conditions of the legal covenant, states the CVLT.
The City says it would like to work with youth/adults to find alternate locations for the BMX activity, and welcomes any suggestions or
comments. Call Courtenay - Community Services Department at 334-4441 for further information.
---------------------------------------
map here with the park near the middle...
http://www.city.courtenay.bc.ca/PDFs/community/city_map.pdf
---------------------------------------
For the kids - since the mature builders I know in the valley wouldn't build there - please think before you dig...