Group offers $30M to buy proposed Bowen Island park where camping has become contentious

 

Bowen Island Conservancy claims 'overwhelming public opposition to Metro Vancouver's plans

The Cape Roger Curtis site on Bowen Island was purchased by Metro Vancouver for $40 million in the spring. The regional district plans to spend over $15.8 million on planning, design, development and opening the park to the public. 

A Bowen Island, B.C., group opposed to overnight camping at a proposed regional park wants to buy the park site from Metro Vancouver.

The Bowen Island Conservancy has sent a letter to the regional district, offering $30 million to buy lands slated for the park on Cape Roger Curtis.

It says it is making the offer to prevent what it calls "serious negative impacts to our Wild Coast Nature Refuge adjacent to the park and conservancy values in the area generally," should the park materialize.

The conservancy noted "overwhelming public opposition to the park as currently proposed, in particular with respect to camping."

The letter cites pledged donations as the source of the funds. When contacted Wednesday, conservancy president Owen Plowman declined to comment.

Last year, Metro Vancouver announced plans to build the park. A total of $40 million was spent to buy the land — spanning 97 hectares or about a square kilometer — from a private developer. 

The regional district said the park would add about 90 camping spots for walk-in and drive-in camping in a region where spaces are limited.

However the idea became controversial in Bowen, where camping is not allowed.

Some residents say the park will change the island's character, bring noise and crowds, impact conservation efforts near the park, and stress public services on the island.