Regional Park Designation
Halifax Regional Municipality pledges new Regional Park
The Halifax Regional Municipality has committed to establishing a regional park in the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes area. This commitment is contained in the policies, maps, and land-use planning documents of the city’s comprehensive Regional Municipal Planning Strategy, approved by Regional Council in August 2006 after several years of public consultation.
The regional plan is a 25-year guide for development in the Halifax Regional Municipality that sets priorities and comprehensive strategies for settlement, economic growth, finance, community services, transportation, and environmental protection, among others. Through the development of this plan, the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes was consistently flagged as a high-priority for protection and was incorporated into the plan as a new regional park for the municipality.
The City has subsequently zoned public lands in the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes area for protection, and is working collaboratively with the province on the wilderness area designation for these lands. Through the adoption of the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy, the City has also indicated an interest in acquiring private lands adjacent to the publicly-owned wilderness area. This move will help provide better protection for the significant natural features of the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes wilderness and help facilitate better public access and enhanced opportunities for outdoor recreation and education.
Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes Regional Park (HRM Regional Plan 2006) Click for larger image
An overdue commitment
A regional park for the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes area of Halifax is a long overdue commitment. It was first identified for protection by the City and Province as far back as 1975 through the release of the Halifax Dartmouth Regional Development Plan, but always escaped official protection. This failure to act has contributed to the deterioration of the wilderness area, and has allowed development to encroach upon the watersheds of the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes area.
It’s time to correct this gaff and establish a regional park for Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes once-and-for-all. The commitments made in the HRM Regional Plan are a good start, but these promises must be quickly turned into action. Time is of the essence.
What the regional plan says about Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes
"HRM (Halifax Regional Muncipality) intends to create additional Regional Parks at various locations throughout HRM including the Western Common, Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes, Feely Lake, Jacks Lake, Second Lake, and Porters Lake." (pg. 24, HRM Regional Plan, August 2006).
"Lands within the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes Park are both privately and publically owned and a study has been completed to determine appropriate boundaries for the park. A conceptual geographic area for the park is shown on Map 13. It is the intention that, over time, the necessary private lands within the park be acquired for public use. Methods for acquisition range from provincial and municipal partnerships, as financial resources permit, land trades and conservation easements. Once acquired, public lands within the park will be re-designated as Open Space and Natural Resource and zoned Regional Park. Lands outside the park will be designated and zoned for development as appropriate." (pg. 24, HRM Regional Plan, August 2006).
Parks and Natural Corridors map (HRM Regional Plan) Click for larger image