The City of Colwood is asking people to weigh in on whether Ocean Boulevard at Esquimalt Lagoon should be closed to vehicles.
The city closed Ocean Boulevard between Fort Rodd Hill and Lagoon Road to limit gatherings in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The road, which is where the national Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary is located, remains closed.
Now the city is asking the public for their opinions on closing, or partially closing the road.
“The temporary closure of Ocean Boulevard in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has generated interesting conversations about how this roadway is used,” the city wrote on its website.
“The city has received a significant amount of feedback about both reopening the road to vehicles, as well as keeping all or some of the road closed to vehicle traffic for use as a park. We feel it’s important to open this conversation to the broader community and gather input to give council the information they need to consider use of this area going forward.”
The survey, which can be found here, is open until June 15. The city said the answers will go into a report for Colwood city council.
The survey questions include:
- How do you use and enjoy the Lagoon area now?
- What makes this area unique, ecologically and archaeologically?
- What opportunities do you see for Ocean Boulevard over time?
Meanwhile, Lagoon Beach parking along Ocean Boulevard was expanded before the May long weekend earlier this week, with vehicle access at Lagoon Road.
The gate on Ocean Boulevard near Lagoon Road was opened to allow vehicle access to the parking areas along the ocean, up to about halfway along the beach.
A temporary barrier and turn around are set up for vehicles.
The gate near Fort Rodd Hill on Ocean Boulevard is closed at this time.
Colwood is not the first municipality in Greater Victoria to consider banning vehicles in a certain area. Earlier in May, Victoria city council voted to ban vehicles in Beacon Hill Park throughout the summer.
CHEK News
