Category Archives: Parks & Rec Updates

Parks & Rec Updates, Projects, Saltair News

Your Feedback is needed for the Saltair Centennial Park Revitalization Plan

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Saltair Centennial Park Revitalization Plan

Cowichan Valley Regional District – Parks & Trails

This is your chance to provide feedback to decision-makers and make a meaningful impact on major initiatives which will affect your community, while being assured that the feedback is coming exclusively from residents like yourself, and not from those living outside your area.

Opportunity to Participate

There are a number of ways to participate:

  1. Review the Resources and information on Place Speak and take a survey or click on this green highlighted text  survey/questionnaire. 
  2. The same information can be found on the CVRD website at www.cvrd.ca//3367/Saltair-Centennial-Park-Revitalization with a fillable pdf version of the questionnaire to fill out and email in to Tanya [dot] soroka [at] cvrd [dot] bc [dot] ca .

Each poster board has also been printed out and installed at Saltair Centennial Park on the sport court fence by the playground if you wish to look at the revitalization plan in person. Hard copies of the questionnaire will also be there  in a red box to fill out and mail to the CVRD office or scan and email to the email address above.

Proposed features and Planned upgrades/changes can be viewed in Centennial Park along on fence of the Hockey/ball court
Survey forms in red box attached to Ball Court in Centennial Park

 

Next Steps

All questionnaires must be completed and submitted by June 30, 2021 and will be compiled.

If there are any considerable changes to the draft revitalization plan that we did not catch the first time around then the new plan will incorporate the changes.

The FINAL revitalization plan will be adopted by the CVRD Board as the 10-20 year plan for the park and posted on the Saltair Centennial Park webpage on the CVRD website for viewing.

 

Parks & Rec Updates, Saltair News

Tennis Season is Back

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It’s time for Tennis again in Saltair

Saltair has a long history of tennis. The first Saltair
tennis tournament was held in 1984. At that time, the
area leaders had the foresight to build the best tennis
facility, open to the public, between Victoria and
Nanaimo. It has served well the tennis players of Saltair
as well as players from the surrounding areas.

The courts are located in Saltair Centennial Park.
Access to the park is off South Oyster School Road or
from Mountain View Drive.

Tennis courts at Saltair Centennial Park

The courts are not visible from either of the parking lots so you can easily miss them unless you venture into the park. The courts are
located at the north east corner of the park. (Google
Earth provides an excellent aerial view of the park and
courts).

The tennis facility consists of two painted courts as well as a practice
wall – if you are just learning to play or don’t have a partner to play with, having a practice wall is a real bonus.

Saltair is where you come to play tennis. Saltair
has had and continues to have an active tennis community. Currently there are 25 to 30 members who play regularly on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, mornings from mid March to mid October.

Play year-round Tennis at Centennial Park tennis courts

These sessions are purely social and very welcoming of new players.

More competitive matches are scheduled outside the morning sessions.

Tennis is a growing sport in Canada and provides an excellent opportunity for exercise, fresh air and appropriately distanced socialization during this time of COVID.  It is also very good way for people new to the area to be introduced into the community.

Regardless of your level of play, you will find a suitable tennis
partner at the Saltair courts. If you are interested in playing tennis, you are encouraged to drop in on one of the morning social sessions.

(Note: The current BC Health orders limits tennis to only playing singles at this time, therefore, group play (doubles) and the morning Monday, Wednesday and Saturday sessions will commence once this health order is rescinded. )

Submitted by: Matt Huhtala and David Nikula, Saltair, Tennis player advocates

Parks & Rec Updates, Saltair News

Join Saltair Tennis

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Come and Join Saltair Tennis

Centennial Park Tennis Courts (South Oyster School Road)
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9am to 11 a.m.
All play levels welcome.

Saltair Centennial Park has had an active tennis community
since the courts were built in the early 1980’s. The first
tennis tournament was held in 1984.

Today, the enthusiasm for tennis continues. Saltair has an
informal tennis community of about 25 players who play
regularly from March to October on Monday, Wednesday
and Saturday mornings. These sessions are recreational and
all inclusive. Play is structured such that everyone plays
regardless of their play level and sets are limited to four
games to ensure everyone gets to play. If you are new to the
area or are interested in playing, or learning to play, you are
encouraged to join us.

It is healthy outdoor exercise and
will be an excellent introduction for you into the Saltair
community.

Players wanting to play more competitive tennis, can schedule
their play outside the above noted days and times.

Matt Huhtala, Saltair Tennis Player

Play year-round Tennis at Centennial Park tennis courts

Parks & Rec Updates

Deadline Extended: Looking for Volunteers to Serve on Saltair Community Parks Advisory Commission

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Are you interested in helping to plan the future for local parks, open spaces and trails in your community?

Saltair Centennial Park – Annual Easter Event, hosted by local volunteers

The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is seeking volunteers to serve on Electoral Area G – Saltair Gulf/Islands Community Parks Advisory Commissions.  The Community Parks Advisory Commissions provide advice on issues pertaining to park and trail development, park amenities, park volunteer engagement, parkland acquisition opportunities, annual park budgets, and community park events specific to the electoral area or sub regional parks function each advisory commission represents.

If you are willing to volunteer a few hours each month as generally asked of Community Parks Advisory Commission members involved with each Commission,  Please submit an “Expression of Interest” available online at http://www.cvrd.bc.ca or at the CVRD main reception at 175 Ingram Street, Duncan.  Completed Community Parks Advisory Commission Expressions of Interest must be submitted to the CVRD in hardcopy or by email: parks [at] cvrd [dot] bc [dot] ca by noon on Wednesday,  February 20th, 2019.

For further information, please contact Brian Farquhar, Manager, Parks & Trails Division, 250-746-2620 or 1-800-665-3955

Parks & Rec Updates, Saltair News

Update on Saltair’s Connection to the Cowichan Valley Trail

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CVRD has posted an “Invitation To Tender” to prospective bidders to submit bids for Saltair’s Rail With Trail Connector – Phase 1.

This Invitation to Tender is for construction services to complete sections of the Cowichan Valley Trail along the E&N rail corridor between Cook Street and Old Victoria Road (approximately 2.5 km) in Chemainus, North Cowichan, BC.

Publication Date/Time:
3/21/2018 4:00 PM
Closing Date/Time:
4/18/2018 2:00 PM
Contact Person:
Anthony Jeffery
Email: purchasing [at] cvrd [dot] bc [dot] ca
Related Documents:
Saltair Rail with Trail Connector Phase 1- Tender Document No R18-35-Mar21
Parks & Rec Updates

Solmie Rd Beach Access

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Did you know there is a fairly new Beach Access in Saltair?   This beach access was a requirement in the development of Saltair Seaside Estates.  CVRD manages and maintains the beach access pathway.  The lower section of the path is very steep, use caution when descending.   Access can be gained from Chemainus Rd.   Turn  on to Greenhill Drive and follow Greenhill to the end of Solmie Rd.  Please do not park in front of bollards. Emergency vehicle access only.

Solmie Rd Beach Access in Saltair
Parks & Rec Updates, Saltair News

Saltair – Cowichan Valley Trail Update 2016

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SALTAIR IN MOTION GROUP’S  OCTOBER 2016 UPDATE

Over the summer you may have noticed volunteers  counting bicycles/pedestrians and vehicle traffic along Chemainus Road.

The data was required by the CVRD to be included in grant applications for funding to complete Saltair’s section of the Cowichan Valley trail.

Currently, CVRD Board of Directors approval was given to submit an application to the BC Rural Dividend Program for a $500,000 grant to complete the Saltair section of the Cowichan Valley Trail. The total project cost of $1.21 million will be supplemented with an allocation of $225,000 from the CVRD Community Works Fund and allocations from the Regional Parks function over a three year period.   Keep checking here for further updates.

Parks & Rec Updates

Saltair Section of Trans Canada Trail (Cowichan Valley Trail)

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Saltair Trans Canada Trail Committee

Many Saltair residents are very concerned about bicycle and pedestrian safety along Chemainus Road in Saltair.  A group consisting of Tim Godau, Jason Wilson, Debbie Neil, Jackie Rieck, Lynne Smith and Jane Walton believe that completing the Trans Canada Trail  through Saltair would significantly help solve this problem.  They sent a series of 13 questions to the CVRD  about plans for finishing the trail and also represented themselves as a delegation to the CVRD Regional Services Committee this past March 23 to present their case.

Jason Wilson was the spokesman for the group doing a terrific PowerPoint presentation illustrating the current problems of Chemainus Road and the safety concerns that they had. The main focus was that Saltair should be the next link completed on the trail to alleviate these problems and because it serves the 16,000 residents of Chemainus, Saltair and Ladysmith. Through discussion here are some of the facts that came out.

  1. The main obstacle to completing the trail is money. It will take $1.55 million to complete the Saltair section. The big cost is doing the two bridge structures over Stocking Creek. The engineering work has been done for this section and it is shovel ready when the money is ready.
  2. This a regional project so regional money will be used along with grant money from different authorities like ICET, Western Diversification, Trans Canada Trails Foundation, Bike BC, Green Municipal Fund, New Canada Building Fund, Regional Parks Budget Gas Tax and others.
  3. The Island Corridor Foundation controls the land beside the train track where the trail will be built. The Island Corridor is owned by all the municipalities and regional districts from Victoria to Campbell River. This 6.3 km Saltair section of the trail will be built on the west side of the track continuing from Chemainus to Stocking Creek Park.

The CVRD heard the concerns of our committee and were very supportive of our efforts. They want the trail completed also. There is some hope that the work can start in 2017 or 2018.

Mel Dorey, Area G Director, CVRD, Saltair and the Islands

Parks & Rec Updates

Parks Commission Update – January 2016

Parks Commission announcement January 2016!   To view, please click this highlighted link:  SALTAIR PARKS COMMISSION January 2016 update

 

Hello friends and people of Saltair,

If you are reading this, then you have signed on to the Sunny Saltair website. The spirit of Saltair, volunteers and imagination are at work.

I have been asked to provide an update from the parks commission on the wonderful facilities we have in our back yards here in Area G. It is important to note that Saltair is neither Ladysmith nor Chemainus but a bedroom community to both. I like to think of our little community as the Stanley Park of the future metropolis that has become inevitable on the east coast of Vancouver Island. It is a small and scenic very important area that we have been entrusted with. Our Mediterranean climate enables people to enjoy the spectacular natural beauty all year long and park management is ever diligent providing safe trail systems for all to explore. We are rural yet urban, a place for all ages.

The three main parks in our area are: the Stocking Creek Park, Centennial Park and the Diana Princess of Wales Wilderness Park. This year saw improvements to all these parks.

The Stocking Creek Park had the student program add a new stair case to the Huckleberry trail.

The Centennial Park has had upgrades to the washrooms now providing year round availability.

Many years of work came to fruition this year at the Diana-Wilderness Park with the addition of commemorate, informative signage and benches.

I am happy that this forum has been provided, to help sustain the Spirit of Saltair, and to stream information that can be posted.

The Parks commission will endeavor to protect and manage for future generations our green spaces.

Thank you,
Tim Godau
Parks chairperson