Hackett's Cove Park Update

Hackett's Cove Park has been a top priority for me since the election, as I know how important coastal access is to our communities, and I know how important recreation opportunities are as well.  This park enables both of those things for Hackett's Cove and all of District 13.  Although it's not big, this park is full of potential for the community it surrounds.

On May 9th, a small group of residents, representatives from the St. Margaret's Bay Stewardship Association and HRM staff (including myself) took a walkthrough of Hackett's Cove Park, to get a sense of the size and possibilities, and to hear initial feedback. After following up with staff again, they suggested I hold a meeting with the community to gather feedback on their vision for the park. This is not a firm commitment from HRM that the park will be developed, but an exploration of what could be done.

On August 28th, eager folks from the area met with me at Labour Day Picnic Cafe, where I gathered feedback for staff. There was surprising symmetry amongst folks, and I found that very encouraging. I submitted the exhaustive list of suggestions to staff, which included:

• parking to accommodate 5+ cars
• a walking path to the beach wide enough to portage a kayak - consider making it wheelchair accessible
• a picnic table or chairs
• a garbage can and/or port-o-potty
• a means to preserve privacy (like fencing) for neighboring homes
• environmentally sensitive; should disturb as little nature as possible
• no commercial scuba businesses
• can it be locked with hours of operation? It should not be maintained in the winter

I am hopeful that with that feedback, HRM Parks can add Hackett's Cove Park in their planning for the upcoming budget(s). 

I was encouraged to see the amount of media attention this proposed park has gotten, and I'd encourage you to read Philip Moscovitch's article in the Halifax Examiner here, as well as CTV News here.