The Town of Comox has acquired a new park, with a completed purchase agreement with the property owners at 1413 Balmoral Avenue, approximately 2.6 hectares, for use as a new public park and green space.
The new “Newson Family Nature Park” had a possession date of March 1. To honour the family, a stone masonry base with an anchor and plaque detailing the Newson/Fairbairn family history will be placed on the site where the house stood. Additionally, a labyrinth monument will be installed at the existing site, a portion of the Dahlia gardens will be preserved, memorial trees will be planted, and dedicated benches will grace the property.
Parks and open spaces are an important part of our community,” said Comox Mayor Nicole Minions. “We know this property will be a space for people to gather and enjoy the outdoors in a place that preserves the family’s legacy. As the properties provide adjacent access to Brooklyn Creek, Macdonald Wood and Mack Laing, this area will become a treasured location. It creates a large central park space that was in our long-term vision for the community.
“This land is our family’s legacy, and as a family, we firmly believe that the ability to share it with our community is the best way to honour the memory of our parents, grandparents, and those who came before them,” said Richelle Newson, a member of the Newson family. “Both of our parents, George and Kella-Lee Newson, embodied a spirit of caring, generosity, and service to our family and wider community. For generations before us, this land has been a welcoming and meaningful place of gathering and a safe harbour for all. We are grateful to the partnership and collaboration of the Town of Comox to ensure that this land will be enjoyed and preserved for all the people of the Comox Valley for years to come.”
The Town is purchasing the park using previously collected Development Cost Charges (DCCs) specific to parkland, which will not affect residents or property taxes. This was a unanimous decision of Comox Council and was done in-camera following the procedural process for property acquisition.
Over the next 6 months, this property will be closed to the public to allow the required work to proceed. A timeline for the properties’ development will be determined in the coming year and posted to the project webpage, comox.ca/parkdevelopment .
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Media Contacts:
Nicole Minions, Comox Mayor
nminions@comox.ca
250-339-2202