For the past 40 years, the Province of B.C. has leased an area of land in Wilmer to the Regional District of East Kootenay. The large, undeveloped wooded ravine is bordered by Mays Avenue, Bullin Street and Wells Avenue and has historically been called Selkirk Park.

This lease has now expired and, if it is going to be renewed, the RDEK has to create and submit a management plan to the Province. Before we can take that step, we need to hear from the community and find out what its wishes are for that property.

To help get that input from residents, we will be holding a community meeting in Wilmer on Wednesday, June 24th at 7 p.m. at the Community Hall. At the meeting, we want to find out the importance of the property to the community and whether the community feels the land should become an official park or returned to the Province.

In addition, we will want to know if an official park is created, what sort of improvements, if any, residents would want to see at the site (such as picnic tables, trails, etc.), and how much they would be willing to pay for the improvements and annual maintenance.

I am hoping to see a strong community turnout at the meeting. Having said that, we know not everyone will be able to attend.

To help increase the opportunity for the community to share its vision, we will have an online survey available on our website between June 25th and July 5th (surveymonkey.com/s/selkirkpark).

For those without computer access, copies will be available at our Columbia Valley RDEK office.

If you have questions about Selkirk Park or the meeting, you can contact me or the RDEK’s Corporate Officer Shannon Moskal in Cranbrook at 1-888-478-7335.

I am looking forward to seeing you in your newly renovated Wilmer Community Hall on June 24th.

Gerry Wilkie is the Regional District of East Kootenay director for Area G, and can be reached at gdwilkie@cyberlink.bc.ca.