2023 Courtenay Annual Report

Parks and Recreation Master Plan Implementation Strategy

Courtenay’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP), adopted in 2019, informs planning and decision-making for our community’s parks, trails, recreation facilities and programs for the next 10 years. An Implementation Strategy was outlined as the next step in the process for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The work on this strategy was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but it remained a priority for the City to support the implementation of recommendations contained within the PRMP. The Implementation Strategy was approved by Council in October. The Strategy prioritizes and guides the City’s work plan, capital and operation expenditures and strategic initiatives for park and recreation over the next ten years. It defines the priorities, phasing, departmental responsibilities, and estimated costs for implementing PRMP recommendations. It also links recommendations with the Official Community Plan adopted in 2022, and identifies other relevant strategic documents that should be considered when carrying out each recommendation. To facilitate the prioritization of the PRMP recommendations, a set of criteria was developed using the OCP Cardinal Directions and the PRMP vision. Completed projects under the Implementation Strategy include: • Crown Isle 150 Year Grove renamed Stan Hagen Nature Park. • A conceptual design completed for McPhee Meadows. • Air-conditioning upgrade in the older section of the Lewis Centre. • A policy was prepared to guide decision-making in setting fees and charges for programs and services. Many other projects are underway or planned in the short, medium or long-term. For plan details visit: courtenay.ca/ParksRecPlan

Nature Park in East Courtenay Renamed After Stan Hagen A four-acre forested area on the corner of Lerwick Road, Malahat Drive, and Crown Isle Drive was formally renamed “Stan Hagen Nature Park” in a dedication ceremony on August 24th, hosted by the City of Courtenay and attended by members of the Hagen family and invited guests. The Honourable Stanley B. Hagen served as MLA for the Comox riding until his passing in 2009. The park was originally assigned the temporary name “150 Year Grove” when first established in 2009 in honour of B.C.’s 150 year celebrations. The decision to rename the park in honour of Stan Hagen was made by Courtenay Council in 2010, recognizing his long-running involvement as a community leader and participation in parks, heritage, and community matters. Hagen served the residents of British Columbia in ten cabinet portfolios. To represent the ministries Hagen served, the City of Courtenay planted ten dogwood trees in the park.

City of Courtenay | 2023 Annual Report

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