Enjoy the sunshine on Saanich’s flat, wide, accessible walkways
Getting out for a walk isn’t as easy for some as it is for others. Older adults with mobility challenges need safe, flat, paved walkways that are easy to navigate. In Saanich, there are many parks which offer just that and more. Here are just a few;
Sierra Park, located in Gordon Head on Sierra Place, offers a paved, flat loop that takes you around a grassy field and through a small horticultural display. The paved walkway is normally wide enough for two, but to maintain a physical six foot distance, a friend could walk on the grass beside you. There are benches to sit when you need a break or just relax and enjoy the garden. There are no washrooms. The loop is approximately 300 metres.
Rutledge Park, located in Quadra Cedar Hill area on Inverness and Cloverdale, also offers an enchanting circular loop with a flat, paved pathway. The highlight of this park is the public art and horticultural display built around the loop. Artist Tina Familo created poetry to reflect the history of the neighbourhood. The poems were then carved onto eight granite stones from a local quarry. The eight stone poems were placed throughout the park to subtly enrich the beauty and meaning of this place. Although the loop is shorter, approximately 150 metres, your walk can be enlarged by including the surrounding sidewalks as well as the path.
Brydon Park in the Royal Oak area is often overlooked by residents, yet it offers almost two hectares of open green space. With no vehicle thoroughfare, it can be a sunny, quiet walk on wide, paved pathways. Brydon Park also offers naturescapes, and interpretive signs and a playground for kids. It can be accessed at the end of a number of streets - Mapleton, Vanguard and Viewmont. Pathways from Brydon also connect with the Colquitz Trail if you get adventurous. Paths crisscrossing the park offer a variety of distances for you try, from 200 metres to 350 metre loops. No washrooms are available.
The Gorge Waterway is a favourite with many walkers who require wide, flat, paved surfaces. The walkway between Tillicum and Craigflower Road offers a path wide enough for social distancing as well as many benches along the way for resting. The highlight is the water itself, and the opportunity to birdwatch and take in the horticultural displays. The distance between Tillicum and Craigflower is almost two kilometres, so is sure to give you a good walk. Many BC Transit buses run along Tillicum, Gorge and Craigflower, making it accessible at both ends. Washrooms are available.
The sun is coming out and we hope everyone can have a chance to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. There are many more types of trails and parks available; for more information, go to: