Regional Parks & Trails Service

Through the Land Securement Strategy process, a long-list map of potential park and trail areas was developed. It identifies areas that may be of elevated interest for future regional parks or trails. 

The map was informed by input received during the Strategic Plan and Land Securement Strategy processes. This included input from the general public, Regional Parks and Trails Committee, K’ómoks First Nation, regional partners, and the Regional Parks and Trails working group.

The map is a planning tool. It does not identify land that will necessarily be secured or protected. Instead, it identifies a wide scope of possible sites that meet the goals and vision of the Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan.

View the long-list map

The Regional Parks and Trails Working Group is made up of park management staff from each of the region’s local governments.

The Regional Parks and Trails Committee has delegated authority over the administration and operation of the Regional Parks and Trails Service. It's made up of elected officials from each of the municipalities and electoral areas.

Regional parks and trails will complement — not replace — community, provincial, and other parks in the Comox Valley. The graphic below shows how regional parks and trails fit within the broader parks system.

The Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan focuses on future regional parks and trails. While it does not address parks and trails managed by other organizations, such as local governments or the Province, those spaces were considered when planning for the future regional system.

The plan was developed with input from the public, community organizations, partners and others throughout 2023 and 2024.

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In 2022, the CVRD formally established a Regional Parks Service. Broad involvement and community input has guided the creation of the Draft Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan. Through this process, the CVRD has worked with K’ómoks First Nation, member municipalities, electoral areas, interest groups, and community members. 

• Regional Parks and Trails Service Bylaw (2022)
• Background study (Nielson)

• 1971: The former Comox Strathcona Regional District (CSRD) establishes a regional parks service intended to raise funds, secure lands, and develop park management plans.
• 1970s-90s: This service creates a number of regional parks including Seal Bay Park, Goose Spit Park, and Mount Geoffrey Park.
• 1992: The process and planning source book "Establishing a Vision for Parks within the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona" is published.
• Late 1990s: Activity under the regional parks service diminishes and after several years of stagnancy the service goes dormant. The Comox Valley has been without a regional parks function since 1998.
• February 2008: Following a strategic reorganization process the CSRD is dissolved and replaced by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and the Strathcona Regional District (SRD).

Phase 1

Analysis and initial input: spring to fall 2023

Phase 1 focused on gathering and analyzing information about the region today; gaining input from K’ómoks First Nation, local government, and key interest groups; and identifying the emerging framework for future regional parks and trails.

Phase 2

Draft directions: fall 2023 to spring 2024

Phase 2 shared the emerging directions and gathered feedback from across the region to confirm draft vision, goals, and key directions to be incorporated into the draft Strategic Plan.

Phase 3

Strategic Plan finalization: spring to fall 2024

Phase 3 shared the full draft plan with all interested participants to review and provide comments. All comments were considered and refinements were completed to finalize the Strategic Plan.

Final plan

Adoption of the Strategic Plan: fall 2024

The Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan was adopted by the Regional Parks and Trails Committee in November 2024.

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Phase 1: spring 2025 to winter 2026

Develop candidate areas long-list and identify shortlist areas

Phase 1 developed a long-list of areas across the region that may have greater potential for future regional parks and trails. From this list, a confidential shortlist of areas was selected for further review.

Phase 2: winter to spring 2026

Evaluate shortlist and identify priority sites

Phase 2 evaluated the shortlisted areas and identified a small number of confidential priority areas.

Phase 3: spring to fall 2026

Draft and finalize Land Securement Strategy (LSS)

Phase 3 focused on drafting and finalizing the Land Securement Strategy.

Final Land Securement Strategy: fall 2026

Adoption of the LSS: fall 2026

The Land Securement Strategy was adopted in September 2026.