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CITY OF LANGFORD OFFICIALLY OPENS NEW DOWNTOWN PARK;COMMUNITY GARDEN TO FOLLOW

(Langford, B.C.) – The City of Langford celebrated the official opening of Porcher Park on Tuesday, April 22, at 11 a.m. at 822 Wren Place. Featuring open green spaces, an accessible children’s play area, and a soon-to-be-established community garden, Porcher Park is set to be a valuable addition to Langford’s downtown core.

The event saw participation from community members and included distribution of complimentary seed packages, a ceremonial tree planting, tours of the upcoming community gardens, and light refreshments.

Porcher Park was dedicated to the City in 1971 as a wildlife refuge and underwent significant expansion and renewal after receiving approval in the City’s 2024 budget. To support the park expansion, the City acquired three adjacent properties—two on Wren Place and one on Brock Avenue—to enhance the park and improve accessibility for Langford residents.

“The expansion of Porcher Park brings access to much-needed green space for residents of Langford’s downtown core. We extend our gratitude to all the volunteers who donated their time to restore the park and ensure it thrives for generations to come,” said Scott Goodmanson, Mayor of Langford.

The City of Langford collaborated with the Greater Victoria Green Team and FireSmart BC to restore Porcher Park Refuge to its natural state by removing invasive plants and planting native ones. Three volunteer events have been held since Fall 2023, during which many invasive plants such as English Ivy, Himalayan Blackberry, and Scotch Broom were removed, and over 300 native plants were planted to help prevent the return of invasives.

“Seeing Porcher Park transform through community-powered restoration has been nothing short of inspiring. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people and nature connect. We are so excited to keep growing this relationship—and this park—together,” said Kaitlin Warren, Program Manager, Greater Victoria Green Team.

Identifying and implementing food security initiatives, such as the Porcher Park Community Garden, is in alignment with the objectives in Langford’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Additionally, the park enhances the quality of life for residents by improving access to the natural environment.

The community garden at Porcher Park is the first of its kind in the city and will be operated by Urban Food Resilience Initiatives Society (UFRIS), which was awarded the Request for Proposal (RFP) to manage the initiative. UFRIS is a non-profit organization based in Langford that supports urban households with the cost of food through a range of projects and programs.

“The new Porcher Park Community Garden is a forward step for households and neighbourhoods in Langford. In tough economic times, growing even a small amount of fresh food helps with good nutrition and economic resilience,” said Mary Brooke, Executive Lead, UFRIS. “Thanks to the vision of Langford Mayor and Council, this garden will provide residents with a space to grow food, with zero carbon footprint from garden to kitchen.”

Residents are invited to enter a garden-selection lottery for Porcher Park plots, scheduled for May 10, 2025, by the UFRIS. Those with gardening expertise are encouraged to volunteer and mentor new gardeners.

The City is currently developing a Parks & Trails Master Plan and is seeking public input through a survey available at LetsChatLangford.ca/Parks, open until April 27, 11:59 p.m. Community members are encouraged to provide their input about parks and trails in Langford by participating in the survey.

Visit LetsChatLangford.ca to know more.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Harriet D’Costa,
Communications Advisor
Cell: 250-661-9346
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