Ever wondered how often your local park gets mowed? What's involved in trail grooming, tree maintenance, invasive species management, and keeping creeks healthy? How are decisions made about new features like washrooms, water parks, fields, courts or play equipment? 

We've been hosting Parks Walks

We invited the community to join us for a walk in the park with Gord + Gord, Colwood Parks Foreman Gord Beauvillier and Councillor Gordie Logan.

Both Gords are always excited to hear about your experience of our local parks, answer questions, share information and talk about what the future holds for parks and trails in Colwood as outlined in the City's new Parks & Recreation Master Plan.

In 2021, the City is creating Parks Management Plans for three parks: Ocean View Park, Lookout Lake Park and Colwood Creek Park. So we started there!

What we heard at Lookout Lake Park on Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Resident: What is the solar panel on the black pole for?
Parks Foreman:
The solar panel is a water level monitor, it tracks any changes in water level for the dam.

Resident: Is there a chance to get a permanent washroom here?
Parks Foreman:
We're very limited with the type of bathroom that can be put in this park because there is no sewer connection, however an updated bathroom structure and potentially some sort of change room have been identified as options to consider from the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, we'll be further exploring that in the Parks Management Plans.

Resident: Some of the stairs coming from Sunheights Drive are becoming a concern, are there plans to fix them? 
Parks Foreman:
 The stairs are currently on a maintenance plan which will address these problems, the parks team will be replacing the asphalt shingles so the stairs will be much easier to travel up and down the stairs safely.

Resident: What is the purpose of this dam? 
Parks Foreman:
 This is a spring and rainwater collection dam. I believe it may have been used for fire suppression purposes during logging back in the day. I've heard lots of rumors about the lake like it's bottomless or that there was some sort of machinery left at the bottom, unfortunately we quashed both of the rumours when we drained the lake during the dam upgrades and found no machinery and a bottom to the lake. 

Resident: What is the purpose of this dam? 
Parks Foreman: 
This is a spring and rainwater collection dam. I believe it may have been used for fire suppression purposes during logging back in the day. I've heard lots of rumors about the lake like it's bottomless or that there was some sort of machinery left at the bottom, unfortunately we quashed both of the rumours when we drained the lake during the dam upgrades and found no machinery and a bottom to the lake

Ideas from the community for Lookout Lake Park in the Parks & Recreation Master Plan

With significant input from the public, the City of Colwood adopted its first Parks & Recreation Master plan in 2021.

Some of the ideas expressed for Lookout Lake Park include:

  • Protect environmentally sensitive areas and explore potential for interpretive signage.
  • Consider options for both swimmers and people fishing to use the lake safely.
  • Consider a covered picnic structure.
  • Consider upgrading to a permanent washroom facility. 
  • Explore options for parking, improved signage, and access.
  • Consider opportunities to provide nature play features.

Read the full Colwood Parks & Recreation Master Plan with a section specific to Lookout Lake Park on pages 120-121.