Summary
This report is an updated version of the 2024 Dover Parks Report. The main changes are highlighted in the “What Is New” section. The report examines the parks and green spaces in the Dover Community area. In this report, parks are those public places named by the City as a park and the term “green spaces” includes public park-like areas such as a beach access, sports fields facility and trail. Dividing the area into four quarters of approximately the same size, the report describes the parks in each quarter and makes recommendations for improvements and needed new parks. Generally, the Dover Community enjoys excellent parks with good amenities, although some existing playground equipment will need replacement soon and a few parks could use additional equipment. However, the greatest and immediate need is for new parks and amenities in the Southwest Quarter, an area of medium-density residential development where available property for new parks is in short supply. The report recommends updates and improvements for fifteen existing parks, one beach access/park, one beach access, one sports field facility and two trails in the four quarters, plus the creation of two new parks in the Southwest Quarter. It also identifies the potential of selling undeveloped roadways and using the proceeds for the creation of the recommended two new parks. Finally, it recommends a larger park with a community centre and swimming pool(s) in Dover’s temporarily annexed area, the proposed Bowers District.
Introduction
The boundaries (shown as the heavy red, broken lines in Appendix A) of the Dover Community Association (DCA) are:
The Georgia Strait (Salish Sea) to the North.
Hammond Bay Road to the South.
Nanaimo City Limits to the West.
Sealand Road (Rutherford School) and a line through Sealand Park to the East.
To assess the distribution of parks and green spaces within the above boundaries, the DCA has divided the area into four roughly equal quarters by lines running east-west along Waldbank and Dover Roads and north-south along Blueback Road and Uplands Drive (see the light red, broken lines in the map in Appendix A). The four quarters are identified as the Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Quarters. For the most part, the first three quarters contain predominantly single-family housing, with occasional multi-family buildings and commercial/professional buildings. The Southwest Quarter differs significantly, with greater densification, predominantly multi-family housing, extensive commercial facilities, and ongoing property developments.
The Dover Parks Report examines existing and proposed parks and green spaces in the DCA area by quarter, including parks, beach accesses, sports fields and trails, plus their amenities. Recommendations follow regarding improvements to existing parks and green spaces and the creation of new parks.
What Is New
This revised report includes editing of the 2024 report, renumbering the appendices and addressing developments since that report. Included are the City’s Parks Operation latest responses (mostly from 2023) to our recommendations, emphasizing the Partners in Parks program (involving neighbourhood volunteer workers and fund raising) as the vehicle for most park improvements. Also, the report now covers the Bowers District (see paragraphs 23-26 below and Appendix F), which the DCA has temporarily annexed, recommending an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) that would create a new community park in the northern third of the District.
Descriptions, recommendations and Parks Operation responses are shown on separate pages in Appendix E, one page for each park / green space. In making the 2025 recommendations, the DCA has set three priorities.
The City has advised that recommended creation of two new parks in Dover’s Southwest Quarter will be considered during consultations on the Woodgrove Plan. That plan covers the red area (Secondary Urban Centre) in the map in Appendix G, which includes the location of the proposed Woodgrove Park. Initial consultations indicate the City’s receptiveness to an eventual urban park in this area, perhaps within 20 years.
However, the RDN Park is located just outside the red area in the adjacent brown area (Residential Corridor). A new park in the area bounded by Applecross Rd., Hammond Bay Rd., Uplands Drive and McRobb Ave. (part of which falls within the Woodgrove Plan area) is our highest park priority, whether or not it falls within the Plan’s area.
The DCA notes little progress toward the creation of the recommended new parks and will continue advocating for their earliest establishment. In the meantime, the report suggests consideration of using undeveloped roadways in exchange for funding the two recommended new parks.
Existing Parks
Currently, there are twenty existing parks and green spaces in the DCA area, consisting of five parks and one trail in the Northwest Quarter, five parks, one beach access/park and one beach access in the Northeast, three parks and one sports facility in the Southeast, one park and one trail in the Southwest, and one park partly in each of the Northeast and Southeast Quarters. Green spaces include Blueback Beach Access, Invermere Beach Access/Park and McGirr Sports Fields, as well as the two trails, Parkway and Seabold. Three of the Quarters enjoy at least four each of the existing parks and green spaces, but the Southwest Quarter has only one existing park and one trail. Appendix A is a map of the Dover Community showing its existing parks and green spaces and proposed new parks.
The existing parks and green spaces are precious community assets representing a range of park/green space types. There are natural forested areas with trails (Saxer, Sealand and part of Pioneer), beach access (Seabold, Blueback, Invermere, Sealand), sports fields (Pioneer, Groveland, McGirr Sports Fields), grassy open spaces (Icarus, Rafter Rd., Clarence Way), neighbourhood parks with playgrounds (Seabold, Lewis, Groveland, McGirr Park, Sechelt Drive, Carmanah, Broadway, Southampton) and one accessible only by the Salish Sea (Schook). In the Dover Community, dogs are allowed off-leash only in the designated forested area at Pioneer Park and at Invermere Beach Access/Park; dogs are permitted on-leash in the other parks and green spaces, except none are allowed on playgrounds and sports fields.
The DCA commends the City for the establishment of the existing parks and green spaces, while supporting the City’s continuing maintenance and upgrading of amenities in consultation with the DCA. As well, the DCA acknowledges and expresses appreciation for the important contributions of service clubs to our community’s parks, as illustrated in the names of Seabold Rotary Park and Groveland Gyro Park.
Playground equipment for some of the parks date back to the 1990s and is approaching the end of its lifetime. This will likely require a phased replacement timetable, resulting in the report’s common recommendation to update amenities as required within City guidelines. Equipment in other parks is newer, for example, Groveland in 2013 and McGirr in 2023. For some parks/green spaces, the addition of specific amenities is also recommended, such as benches, picnic tables, etc. Appendix E gives a brief description of each park and green space and recommendations for each one, as well as the Parks Operations’ responses.
Proposed New Parks
The Southwest Quarter has only one existing park and a trail, fewer than each of the other three Quarters. At the same time, it has the highest residential and commercial density within the DCA boundaries and is the focus of ongoing property development. Therefore, to balance the parks and green spaces in the four Quarters and to address the shortcomings in the Southwest Quarter, the Dover Parks Report proposes two new parks (see Appendices A, B and C) in the Southwest Quarter.
Remaining potential park spaces are in short supply in the Southwest Quarter and are held by private owners. The DCA requests the City’s support to prioritize the creation of two new parks in the Southwest Quarter (see Appendices A, B and C). These are proposed on parts of properties currently without buildings but would require negotiations with and the cooperation of the property owners.
One such location (see Appendix B) is owned partly by the City (Parkway Trail) and partly by the Woodgrove Centre. The other location (see Appendix C) is owned by the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and includes two optional locations, either one of which would be suitable for a community park. The RDN advised us that the property is a crown land grant with stipulations that do not include a park. Attempts to learn more about this land grant so far have been unsuccessful. The DCA has reached out to the two owners to establish contact and to outline its interest in investigating prospects for a community park on their property.
The DCA would welcome any suggestions from the City for new parks in Dover’s Southwest Quarter. In the meantime, following are descriptions of and recommendations for two proposed new parks in Dover’s Southwest Quarter:
Woodgrove Community Park – Woodgrove Centre, 6631 Island Highway North, (identified as # 19 on the map in Appendix A, also see Appendix B). In 2021, the owner of Woodgrove Centre announced plans, yet to be implemented, for an outdoor park (above ground-level parking) of about 100,000 square feet to include a performance stage, possibly a dog park, and space for specific uses, e.g., basketball. While waiting for the owner’s long-term plans to reach fruition, the DCA suggests immediate creation of a park at Woodgrove Centre as follows:
The first phase would extend from the northeast corner of Aulds Rd. and the Nanaimo Parkway to the southwest corner of Mary Ellen Dr. and Island Highway and include the section of the Parkway Trail within those boundaries, the existing picnic area near Tiny Hoppers Early Learning, and the flat, treed area adjacent to the northeast corner of Aulds Rd. and the Nanaimo Parkway.
The second phase could consist of the grassed hillside strip from the most western entrance to the mall from Aulds Rd. to the entrance on Aulds Rd. opposite Metral Dr. and a paved parking area west of and bordering the Metral Dr. entrance. Alternatively, Phase 2 could also be located elsewhere on the property, adjacent to Phase 1, if preferred by Woodgrove Centre.
The park would serve Dover residents, Parkway Trail users and Woodgrove Centre patrons from local and surrounding areas.
Creation of this park would require negotiations between the City and the owner of Woodgrove Centre, plus possibly the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which is believed to be a party to a right of way at the corner of Aulds Rd. and the Nanaimo Parkway.
Recommendations: The City should create a neighbourhood park, named, for example, the Woodgrove Community Park, along the western, northern and southern borders of the Woodgrove Centre, with appropriate landscaping and park signs, including (in the first phase) benches, picnic tables, swings, slides and climbing apparatus and (in the second phase location), recreational amenities to be determined following consultation.
RDN Community (or Regional) Park – 6300 Hammond Bay Rd. (identified as # 20 A/B on the map in Appendix A, also see Appendix C). One of two options should be selected following negotiations, either the one (#20A) on Calinda St. and the southern border of the Nanaimo Seniors Village, or the other one (#20B) on the northeast corner of Calinda St. and Hammond Bay Rd., both currently treed RDN properties. Creation of this park would require negotiations between the City and the Regional District of Nanaimo. Recommendations: The City should create a neighbourhood park or the RDN should create a regional park, named, for example, RDN Community Park or RDN Regional Park, on one of the two optional RDN locations. The park should be landscaped appropriately amid the existing trees, with a park sign, benches, picnic tables, swings, slides and climbing apparatus.
Other Potential Park Sites
There are at least two undeveloped roadways (roads right of way) in the Dover area. As shown in Appendix H, one runs from Medd Rd. to the Salish Sea and the other at the north end of Brickyard Rd. to the waterfront. Both are treed and remain in a natural state. The City reportedly has no development plans for these properties at this time.
The DCA recommends that the City investigate the option of rezoning the undeveloped Medd Rd. and Brickyard Rd. roadways to the Salish Sea for residential use, then selling one or both and applying at least part of the proceeds to the acquisition of land for the creation of the recommended two parks in Dover’s Southwest Quarter.
Caveat
Finally, we should keep in mind a couple of local examples of community planning to be avoided in future. First, successive City Administrations and developers over the last twenty years failed to identify and explore potential park space in the Dover neighbourhood of Georgia View Village, a dense area of multi-family buildings. When all planned developments are completed in Georgia View Village, there will be about 700 residential units and an estimated population of 1,000 to 1,500, not including neighbours of Georgia View Village, such as the Pinewood Lane complex of townhouses (19 units), the Nanaimo Seniors Village (358 units), and Uplands Walk (33 units), with no nearby park. Second, the City has approved intense development of the nearby Bowers District with only tiny park space, notwithstanding Dover Community advocacy for creating a community park in the northern third of the District. These two local developments are examples of dense development with inadequate park space. We call on future City Administrations to require adequate park spaces in all new, multi-building developments.
Parks Operation Response
No formal response to the 2024 Parks Report was received from the City’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Operation. The City’s Parks Operation’s response to each 2023 DCA recommendation is included in Appendix E.
Of note, Parks Operation points to the Partnership in Parks program as the vehicle for most recommended park improvements, i.e., neighbourhoods are expected to contribute volunteer labour and fund raising.
Bowers District – Proposed Green Thumb Park
In 2022, the City approved the Bowers District development proposal and included it in the City’s Official Community Plan – see https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/city-plan-documents/city-plan/appendix-e---bowers-district-master-plan.pdf. The proposal would redevelop the current Green Thumb Nursery at 6261 Hammond Bay Road over the next 20+ years. The development envisions an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 housing units and mixed-use/commercial buildings ranging from townhouses to high rise towers.
Such a large and dense development on Dover’s southern border with have a massive impact on our local services, traffic flow and neighbourhood character. Consequently, on August 27, 2025, the Dover Community Association passed a resolution to annex the Bowers District temporarily until the future residents of that area establish their own, recognized community association.
At the 2022 public hearing into the proposed Bowers District, Dover residents called for the creation of a large park in the Bowers District, e.g., in the northern third of the District. While the City Council rejected our suggestion, our residents find the approved green spaces inadequate and call on the City to amend the Bowers District Plan to include a larger park with a community centre and swimming pool to serve North Nanaimo residents.
This proposed new park is needed for several reasons. The Woodgrove Plan has identified the need for a park and community centre in the Woodgrove area. Currently, there is no community swimming pool in North Nanaimo. A possible alternate site is Pioneer Park, adjacent to the Woodgrove Area, which encompasses a large area. But it already contains multiple amenities and features, some of which would need to be sacrificed with the addition of a community centre and swimming pool. Further, any reluctance to create a new park on the RDN site at Calinda St. and Hammond Bay Rd. would add to the need to establish a larger park at the north end of the Bowers District. Additionally, as part of the Bowers District falls within the Woodgrove Plan area, the two plans could be coordinated to incorporate a larger park with a community centre and swimming pool(s) in the northern third of the Bowers District. Consequently, the DCA recommends amendment of the OCP for the creation of the Green Thumb Community Park, including a community centre and indoor swimming pool(s) in the northern third of the Bowers District, as shown in Appendix H (third image).
Parks Priorities
Following are the DCA priorities for parks in Dover’s area and the Bowers District (see Appendices E and F):
Creation of two new parks (Woodgrove, RDN) in Dover’s southwest quarter and a larger park with a community centre and swimming pool(s) in the northern third of the Bowers District.
New amenities for existing parks with no amenities and urgent amenities upgrade needed in existing parks, e.g., signage, stairs/equipment repairs.
Non-urgent amenities upgrade/repairs in existing parks as per city guidelines.
Conclusion
Most of the Dover Community is well served by existing parks. However, its most densely developed residential and commercial areas in the Southwest Quarter require new parks. The DCA is participating in consultations for the development of the Woodgrove Plan to ensure that the pressing need for parks in this area is addressed. The potential of developing a park on RDN lands is also being explored. The creation of two new parks in the Southwest Quarter of the Dover Community and a larger park with a community centre and swimming pool(s) in the Bowers District is our top parks priority.
APPENDIX A – DOVER MAP AND DOVER PARKS LIST
Dover Map, showing boundaries (solid red lines), four quarters (broken red lines), parks, beach accesses, sports fields and trails (in solid green) and proposed parks (in broken green lines).
Following is a list of the existing and proposed parks and green spaces in the Dover Community:
Northwest Quarter (five parks and one trail):
May Richards Bennet Pioneer Park
Schook Park
Seabold Rotary Park
Lewis Park
Saxer ParkT-1 Seabold Trailway
Northeast Quarter (one beach access, one beach access/park and five parks wholly in its borders, plus one park shared with another quarter):
Blueback Beach Access
Invermere Beach Access & Park
Rafter Road Park
Groveland Gyro Park
McGirr Community Park
Sechelt Drive Community Park
Icarus Park
Sealand Park (shared with Southeast Quarter)
Southeast Quarter (one sports fields facility and three parks wholly within its boundaries, and one park shared with another quarter):
Sealand Park (shared with Northeast Quarter)
McGirr Sports Fields
Clarence Way Park
Carmanah Park
Broadway Park
Southwest Quarter (currently has only one park, plus a trail, and two new parks are proposed):
Southampton ParkT-2 Parkway Trail
Woodgrove Park (proposed)
RDN Park (proposed)
APPENDIX B – MAP OF PROPOSED NEW WOODGROVE PARK
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APPENDIX C – MAP OF PROPOSED NEW RDN PARK
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APPENDIX D – PARK PRIORITIES
PARK PRIORITIES:
Priority 1 (New Parks) -
RDN Community Park
Woodgrove Community Park/ Parkway Trail
Bowers District – Green Thumb Park (with community centre and swimming pool(s))
Priority 2 (Add Amenities Where None/Urgent Upgrade of Existing Amenities) -
Clarence Way Park
Rafter Road Park
Icarus Park
Sealand Park
Groveland Gyro Park
Sechelt Drive Park
Southampton Park
Seabold Rotary Park
Blueback Beach Access
Invermere Beach Access/Park
Saxer Park
Priority 3 (Non-Urgent Amenities Upgrade/Repairs Needed) -
May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park
Lewis Park
Seabold Trail
Schook Park
McGirr Community Park
Carmanah Park
Broadway Park
McGirr Sports Fields