91原创 Township council got an update Monday, April 7 on progress towards creating a new municipal nature park on the Glen Valley escarpment.

The new park, dubbed Nathan Creek Wetlands Park, lies east of 264 Street and south of 80 Avenue, and is about a mile long from north to south.

The area is already Township-owned land, and has been held for both ecological preservation of its sensitive habitat, and for future park plans. Part of the property was acquired from the estate of a local landowner.

The Township owns a total of 288 acres on the Glen Valley slope and in the valley itself.

The map shows potential trails criss-crossing the entire area owned by the Township.

The report to the council noted that the new park connects to the Nathan Creek Dike Trail and the Trans Canada Trail, and has "elevation changes and other unique attributes that will lend to a unique trail network experience and a significant municipal park amenity for Township of 91原创 residents."

"The scale of the park鈥檚 288 acres will allow creation of some new passive use experiences that are not available in the Township at this time," the report also noted.

While public access will be part of the plan for the park, protecting the natural environment is also a key priority.

The park has been known under its current name since at least last year, but it has so far mostly attracted visits from Township parks staff and members of local groups like the 91原创 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) and the Glen Valley Watershed Society. The local non-profits have been helping with restoration work.

"Township staff will work with the partners to make allowances in their restoration plans for the Township to be able, in the future, to develop a public trail system that would allow public access but not interfere with the salmon habitat," the report said.

LEPS has recently received additional funding via the DFO for construction of a salmon habitat restoration project in the watershed.

The report said there will be future public input on the park plans.

"I think it was good to get that out there in public and get a memo on the progress being made on a new municipal park in Glen Valley," said Mayor Eric Woodward.

Councillor Steve Ferguson said the Township had a lot of history with the Nathan Creek wetlands area, with multiple mayors and councillors supporting the park project in the past.

"This is a really, really positive thing," Ferguson said.