Cape Split Provincial Park Reserve Open House

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on a draft management plan for the Cape Split provincial park reserve.

Two open-house events to discuss the future plans for the property are being held:

• Thursday, May 28, Scots Bay Community Hall, Highway 358, Scots Bay
• Thursday, June 4, Clark Commons, Acadia University, University Ave., Wolfville

The Department of Natural Resources has prepared a preliminary management plan to guide decisions for the property.

The 428-hectare property is on a dramatic coastal setting near Scots Bay, Kings Co. It is the most ecologically intact portion of the North Mountain, and one of the most important undisturbed areas on the Bay of Fundy. The property includes several rare or threatened plant species, old forest, prehistoric sites, rare and semiprecious minerals, and one of the most prominent coastal hiking trails in Nova Scotia.

"Anyone with an interest in Cape Split is encouraged to attend one of the open houses," said Brian Kinsman, senior parks planner, Department of Natural Resources. "Our goal is to create a park that provides visitor facilities and services and is managed to ensure visitor safety and the protection of the park’s ecosystems, heritage, and wildlife habitat.”

The focus of the development is to provide a coastal day-use hiking trail with facilities and services for the proposed 20-kilometre system of interconnecting trails. Parking and trail-head access, orientation and interpretive information and washrooms will be provided at the western end of the Scots Bay Road. Viewing areas will be located at key locations.

The Department of Natural Resources is developing a new natural resources strategy for 2010. Provincial parks will be included in that strategy, which will direct departmental policies and programs for the next decade and beyond.

The draft management plan is be available at www.gov.ns.ca/natr .