Collaborative Effort Restores Lands Around Millard Park

Several groups joined forces last week to clean up a forested area spanning both public and private property near Millard NaturePark in south Courtenay.

Landowners, community volunteers, private business, the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness, Community Cares Peer Outreach, and Youth and Ecological Restoration all took part.

The large-scale restoration netted over 35,000 pounds of accumulated debris, collected by nearly two dozen people over the course of one day.

With the debris crossing public and private lands, the clean-up included a combination of neighbourhood landowners, environmental stewards, community outreach teams, individuals with lived experience with homelessness, and City of Courtenay Bylaw Services.

Peter de Graaf, the City of Courtenay’s Manager of Bylaw Services, said the event was a collaboration from start to finish. “I would call this a truly community-based event,” said de Graaf.

“It was a big challenge, and almost felt overwhelming, but there was a ton of energy and camaraderie in this amazing group of people that came together. And once we were done, it was so rewarding to build great relationships and to see the result of all our hard work. It was a great day.”

The clean-up netted six large construction bins full of debris, 27 tires, and one bin of scrap metal to be recycled.

The clean-up around Millard Park had to wait until ground conditions had sufficiently dried after the rainy season, allowing people and heavy equipment to access the area.

To see the full release, visit City of Courtenay.