From updating trails to repairing tennis courts, here is what else is going on in Saanich Parks.
- Copley West Park - building updates
- Cuthbert Holmes and Tillicum Parks - tree work
- Hyacinth Park - Garry Oak meadow restoration
- PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) - stair construction at beach access
- Playfair Park - washroom replacement
- Rudd Park - trail upgrades
Building Updates - Copley West Park
The building used in Copley West Park [PDF - 86 KB] by our Saanich Neighbourhood Playground Program (SNPP) and the Greater Victoria Football Association is getting a much needed refresh! Coming soon will be new doors, windows and siding. Work to start in 2022 (project delayed).
Park Updates - Cuthbert Holmes and Tillicum Parks
Members of the urban forestry and nautral areas teams will be performing tree work in Cuthbert Holmes [PDF - 218 KB] and Tillicum Parks [PDF - 171 KB] to mitigate trees near main pathways. Such work zones will be clearly marked and paths will be closed for everyone's safety while work is in progress. As a natural areas park, visitors are not to proceed off trail to detour the area. Please respect the active work zones and signs posted.
Our teams will be restoring some of the areas where trees were removed including planting new trees!
Some other exciting updates will be happening around the park too now that the McKenzie Highway interchange project is pretty much done. This includes pathway improvements, invasive Hawthorne tree removals and more restoration and plantings. We have already added new duck boxes, swallow houses and roosting nest structures around the park.
Hyacinth Park - Garry Oak meadow restoration
This year our team will be undertaking a Garry Oak restoration project in the north corner of Hyacinth Park [PDF - 210 KB]. Activities will include:
- Delineating 3 sides of this Oak grove with a split rail boundary. We will leave the NW side open and provide some natural log/rock seating.
- Leave mow strips along the adjacent property, the Daffodil frontage and the asphalt pathway.
- Restoration planting this Fall within the Oak grove, including 1-10 gallon Garry Oaks.
- Large woody debris placed throughout the restoration area.
- Restoration signage.
- Air spading to reduce historic compaction.
PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) - stair construction at beach access
Saanich Parks is starting construction of new stairs to PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) [PDF - 1 MB] beach October 24, 2022, through to December 5, 2022 (weather permitting). 
These steps will replace the concrete stairs damaged in winter storms in 2021.
A portion of the beach trail will be closed during construction. For your safety, please follow all posted signs and avoid the closed area(s).
Removal of the concrete stairs will take place in 2023.
Contact us at parks@saanich.ca for more information.
Playfair Park - washroom replacement
Have you heard? We are installing a new washroom building in Playfair Park later this year (assuming all prep work is done!). The new building will have two private stalls that are open year-round and will replace the existing washrooms which are on a septic system. It will be near the parking lot off Rock St.
The washroom location was chosen for functionality and to avoid the damage to tree roots and infrastructure that would be necessary to locate it where the existing building is. The existing building will continue to support volunteer restoration work and Parks operations.
We will do our best to minimize disruption as underground power, sewer and water services are brought to the new building site, and the new washroom is installed – thank you for your patience.
Contact us at parks@saanich.ca for more information.
Trail Upgrades - Rudd Park
The crews will be replacing the asphalt pathways in Rudd Park [PDF - 148 KB] as they are lifting and heaving. Work is to be done in 2022.