A four-acre park is a dream come true for Ashleigh Hooks, who lives in a townhome in LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Happy Valley neighborhood B次元官网网址� a dream she believes will be ruined when an archery club relocates nearby.
Since April, the Langford woman has dropped by Willing Park almost daily to get some fresh air, stretch her legs and meet her neighbours.
B次元官网网址淪ince we live in townhouses, it feels like we donB次元官网网址檛 have any greenspace, so this small piece of land means a lot,B次元官网网址� said Hooks. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to see this created into an ugly eyesore. This is public land and not for a privatized group.B次元官网网址�
Hooks refers to a Sept. 30 open house where city officials presented residents of Valley View Estates with the potential plans for Willing Park as the new home of the Victoria BowmenB次元官网网址檚 Association.
The proposal includes paving a parking lot for about 20 spots, construction of berms for a shooting range and relocation of two sea cans on the field to store archery equipment. Plans show a realignment of a one-kilometre trail that goes through the park.
Hooks launched a petition to express her disappointment and garnered nearly 600 signatures.
SheB次元官网网址檚 asking the city to indefinitely suspend plans to relocate the club to Willing Park, avoid paving green space, building concrete walls or removing trees, and consider suggestions from nearby residents on how the space should be used.
Hook says that though the relocation to Willing Park may be the most cost effective option for the archery club, itB次元官网网址檚 a cost too high for the residents and wildlife.
ALSO READ: View Royal archery club looking for new home after province moves in on property
Al Wills, president of the Victoria BowmenB次元官网网址檚 Association, said theyB次元官网网址檝e been looking for a new space for the past two years as the province favoured BC TransitB次元官网网址檚 plans to place a handyDART bus facility in their View Royal outdoor shooting area.
Currently, the group is using Saanich Commonwealth to practice shooting. According to Wills, Langford offered the park as a viable option.
B次元官网网址淚 have looked at every possible park and I havenB次元官网网址檛 found one that is more perfect than Willing Park,B次元官网网址� said Wills. B次元官网网址淚t has so much potential to be the centre of a world class archery range too.B次元官网网址�
Glenn Willing, a member of the family that donated a portion of their farmland as a park years ago, said while he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have anything against the archery club, he believes the cityB次元官网网址檚 proposal limits potential for future improvements.
B次元官网网址淭his blocks the chance that a future ball park could be built because in my mind they got the best part of the park,B次元官网网址� said Willing. B次元官网网址淭he pond thatB次元官网网址檚 there makes it impossible to put anything on that side of the land.B次元官网网址�
Public engagement is ongoing and the project is not expected before council again until 2021.
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aaron.guillen@goldstreamgazette.com
