Work to make the Baikie Island Nature Preserve a tourist destination is moving ahead with parking lot improvements.
Graham Stewart with the Rotary Club of Campbell River told city councillors Tuesday the work on the Ocean Blue property off Highway 19 is a critical piece.
“It becomes the gateway for Baikie Island and the Raven Trail. At present, I’d be shocked if we gathered 10 people and asked them where Baikie Island was, that five of the 10 would say they have no idea,” Stewart said.
In addition to a paved parking lot and new signs, the plans include permanently closing Robinson Road to traffic, except for emergency and maintenance vehicles.
“It’s our intent to close this road to public access with bollards so that it is accessible for maintenance and fire purposes. But the public will no longer be able to drive down there because they will be walking from the parking lot on Ocean Blue,” Stewart explained.
They have already started calling contractors to get pricing for the upgrades.
The work is part of the River Route Parks Project in partnership with the Campbellton Neighborhood Association.
The CNA received a nearly $1 million grant last year from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Destination Development Fund for the River Route Parks project.
Permitting and land transactions still need to be approved.
City Manager Elle Brovold updated council, saying staff are doing the due diligence work, which will be part of an upcoming report “shortly.”
Councillor Ron Kerr said the improvements are a “long time coming” and is hopeful to see the changes soon.
During the close of the presentation, Stewart shared some “exciting news” that they’re a “step closer to getting the piece of land” to put in a second washroom at the Beaver Lodge Lands.
