The District of Central Saanich plans to buy a 7.3-hectare parcel of land bordering Butterfield Park. The district has negotiated an agreement to purchase the land for $3.2 million and intends to sell nearly half while protecting four hectares that is heavily forested. The sale of the bare portion of land will help to fund the purchase, the district said.
“To see a large portion of heavily forested land that borders a park come for sale is rare and something of this magnitude is a special opportunity,” said Mayor Ryan Windsor.
The new land will nearly double Butterfield Park, a 5.3-hectare property at 8000 Thomson Place for which the district took responsibility in 1988 after the death of Hilda Butterfield, whose parents had owned the property since 1913.
The family was dedicated to preserving native wildflowers and plants.
The district is working with local First Nations and consulting with the community and local environmental groups to develop plans for the park. Preparing the park for the public will take some time, the district said.
