Intense is the term most people use when remembering the buildup to June 1996. After two years of negotiating, chainsaws vs tree huggers, lobbying, phone calls, letter writing, faxing, public opinion polls, a referendum, deals and deadlines, heroes and villains, last gasp fundraising, and many burritos the unbelievable story of the creation of Macdonald Wood Park came to a happy ending.
The Park was secured by a three way funding partnership between the Town of Comox, the Province of BC, the intrepid Macdonald Wood Park Society and their many many supporters including K’omoks First Nation. It is protected forever under a conservation covenant.
Back in 1996 the property was a beloved 9 acre forest on the edge of town. With a second growth forest, undisturbed middens and the last section of original salt marsh on Comox Bay it was a quiet little known jewel. Most residents today would not believe it was considered for high density development. Now the Park is a cornerstone of four contiguous properties including the new Newson Family Nature Park, Mack Laing Nature Park and Baybrook Nature Park that together provide a well-used and irreplaceable oasis of natural forested space on the Comox Bay waterfront.
The Macdonald Wood Park Society is celebrating this remarkable achievement starting at 1:00 pm, Saturday, June 13. All are welcome, especially those who contributed in any way to the creation of the Park. Please join us at the entrance to the Park, corner of Balmoral and Croteau Roads for stories, guided walks and refreshments.