This Saturday will be a day of celebration for residents and families as the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) marks the official opening of the new 85-acre Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.
An event will take place at the site to celebrate the new public park and festivities begin at 11 a.m. with a family picnic in the meadow. People are invited to bring their lunches and a blanket and the RDN will supply drinks and fruit.
“It’s a pretty meadow, nice and grassy, in the middle of the forest,” said Joan Michel, Parks and Trails co-ordinator for the RDN.
Local young marimba band Jangano Marimba will entertain at noon followed by youth marimba band Kumbana Marimba. The official ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. where there will be a few speakers, and the handing over of money from the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust to the Nature Trust of B.C., who are still actively fundraising for their contribution to the aquisition.
An eagle release by the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association will take place during the opening ceremonies and a cake will be cut for people to enjoy.
People can then head out around the property and find information tables and nature stations set up by various groups like Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust and the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team.
Family activities will also take place in the afternoon with face painting and a treasure hunt aimed at identifying natural features around the property.
Michel said there will be plenty of volunteers helping to make the day special this Saturday.
“It is a property that a lot of people have known over many, many years now so everybody is pitching in on enjoying the day and celebrating the acquisition,” she said.
There will be no public parking available at Moorecroft on Saturday but a free shuttle services will run every 20 minutes from Nanoose Bay Elementary School to the park and back.
Festivities run until 4 p.m.
Moorecroft Regional Park was operated by the United Church of Canada for more than 50 years before it was purchased by the RDN and The Nature Trust of B.C. on March 2 of this year.
For more information on this event call 250-248-3252 or 1-888-828-2069.
To donate to the Nature Trust of B.C. call 1-866-288-7878 or visit www.naturetrust.bc.ca and clicking on Moorecroft Camp under Call to Action.
reporter@pqbnews.com