Island View Beach Park is an important, rare habitat, that hosts many migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, is home to rare plants, moths and other creatures. It is one of the few areas in the CRD that has the habitat suitable for shorebirds and Brant Geese.
The CRD has developed a management plan that includes a significant part of the park for habitat and protection of native wildlife. The majority of the area involved is not part of the main trail network but rather fields and bogs that don't currently have easy access. The plan also includes some areas as on-leash for the many dog walkers who use the park, although off-leash areas are also a significant part of the plan.
For many of us who are concerned about the environment and wildlife, the draft plan does not go far enough, but it is a compromise for a park that has a wide variety of users. That said, a lobby group has formed opposing any restrictions on access and use and has garnered (according to their group) over 4000 signatures. Since politicians often respond to numbers, I felt it was time for a counter-petition to demonstrate that there are other perspectives. Please sign this petition so that we can show the CRD that there are people who value uncommon habitats like those at Island View Beach, and that we want to protect them.
