FAQs

A regional park management plan is the primary guide for caring for a park. It sets a long-term vision, provides strategic goals to guide decision-making, and includes direction on a park’s classification, management zones, policies and potential capital projects.

Over the past 15 years, a number of actions identified in the 2010 Mount Benson Regional Park Management Plan have been completed, including:

• Development of the Benson View Road parking lot and trailhead.
• Establishment of Benson View Regional Trail, securing access from the parking lot to the park boundary.
• Wayfinding improvements throughout the park.
• Trail upgrades to reduce environmental impacts and improve experience, along with decommissioning of trails deemed to be unsafe or high impact.
• Park expansion to the east, securing connections between Mount Benson Regional Park and the City of Nanaimo’s Westwood Lake Park.

The updated Management Plan will identify key actions to pursue in the coming decade.

The updated Management Plan will review and build on the goals and policies outlined in the 2010 Management Plan, address emerging issues, investigate new recreational and conservation opportunities and provide direction for the two recently acquired parcels of land adjacent to the east edge of the park. It is an opportunity to review current needs and update our management approach to reflect community values of today.

Continued collaboration between the RDN, First Nations, interest holders and park users is needed to build a comprehensive understanding of Mount Benson Regional Park and develop a management plan that reflects a broad range of needs and interests.

There will be a drop-in open house held at the park’s main parking lot and trailhead located at 2761 Benson View Road, on Saturday, May 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where you can chat with the project team and share your ideas for the Park. Additionally, an online survey is available until Monday, June 9, 2025. Paper copies of the survey are available on request.