The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has entered into an agreement to purchase two parcels of private land totalling approximately 134 acres in Krestova as regional parkland, according to a news release.
The purchase price of the land is $870,000.
The RDCK must raise its $475,000 portion of this through donations and grants. The remainder has been provided by a donation and from an Electoral Area H community development grant.
“This property, although it was privately owned, has been used by the local community as an outdoor recreation area and a place for residents to enjoy the historic and cultural attributes of the property,” said RDCK vice-chair and Electoral Area H (Slocan Valley) director Walter Popoff.
“The property is now for sale and as the director for the area the community reached out and requested that the RDCK consider purchasing the property for regional park purposes.”
The RDCK will host a Krestova community meeting at the end of August to discuss options for fundraising. More information will be shared when the meeting date is confirmed.
Donations toward the purchase are being accepted by the RDCK. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $50 or more. If fundraising is not successful, donations will be used for future recreational development at Campbell Field at the Playmor Junction.
For information on making a donation, call 250-352-1574.
Last September, the RDCK Board directed staff to investigate the opportunity to purchase the land by looking into environmental criteria, outdoor experiences and activities, area management and planning criteria, as well as other historical and cultural attributes.
The local community was also invited to provide input in order to gauge levels of community interest and support next steps. More than 40 letters in support of the purchase were received.