Nanaimo Council reverses course, designates chunk of Harewood forest parkland
NANAIMO — A sizable section of forested land south of Colliery Dam Park is destined to become parkland after all, thanks to a change of direction by Nanaimo city councillors.
Council voted Monday to officially designate a portion of the 252-acre Greater Nanaimo Water District (GNWD) lands as park and open space.
Just two weeks prior, council rejected a staff recommendation to place a park designation on the section of the land north of the Parkway. They voted instead to have staff explore development options, including affordable housing.
Coun. Jim Kipp, who was absent from the July 10 meeting when the original motion passed, asked for the issue to be reconsidered. Ultimately council struck down the idea of exploring development, instead endorsing a motion to dedicate land between Colliery Dam Park and the Parkway as park.