The Capital Regional District is hiking up the amount of protected parkland in the region.
 
The CRD announced 23 Aug 2023 that it has acquired a 10 hectare parcel of undeveloped land that will be added to East Sooke Regional Park.
 
The land, bordered on two sides by East Sooke Regional Park, runs along East Sooke Road next to the East Sooke Volunteer Fire Department.
 
According to a CRD media release, the parcel is one of the few remaining large undeveloped tracts of land available for addition to the park.
 
"This land acquisition in East Sooke Regional Park is welcome news and increases the amount of valuable and protected parkland in our region. The CRD is committed to making progress on climate action and environmental targets and through land acquisitions like these we're working towards protecting biodiversity and furthering the protection of ecological assets," said CRD board chair Colin Plant.
 
The parcel of land met the CRD's acquisition criteria and was recommended for purchase in a January 2023 land update.
 
It had a market value of $1.09 million and was purchased by the CRD for $950,000 in July after the owners, the Broadbent family, donated $140,000 of the land's value, the release noted.
 
"This property was part of the original Glenairly homestead, and was purchased by our great grandparents, Alex and Nellie (nee Todd) Gillespie in 1910. Many Gillespie descendants have been fortunate to explore and play there, and we are delighted that it will now be preserved and shared for others to enjoy. We thank the CRD for making it possible," the Broadbent family said.
 
The addition brings the park to a total of just under 1,485 hectares, making East Sooke Regional Park the third largest park in the CRD regional parks system, after Sea to Sea Regional Park, and Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park.
 
The area provides habitat for bears, cougars, wolves, and many smaller organisms, and also contains several old-growth Douglas fir trees estimated to be more than 250-years-old.
 
The new property will be left in its natural state to buffer the park's existing boundaries, and to protect biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
 
Rick Stiebel.