Mary Noakes is a member of the Management Plan Advisory Group for Thetis Lake, Francis/King and Mill Hill Regional Parks. The advisory group is charged with providing advice to the CRD Parks Committee and CRD Parks staff about the planning and management of the above mentioned regional parks. The advisory group members are appointed by the CRD Board. We have no authority to commit funds, enter into contracts or represent CRD Parks. It is our responsibility to keep the members of the special interest group that we represent informed on the work of the management plan process and to seek their advice and comment.

A management plan is being drafted for the three regional parks together because they share boundaries and have common concerns that need to be addressed. Mary is representing SIMBS but also has the responsibility of considering what is best for the park (what comes first - the environment or the user?) and also what the public in general wants and expects from the park. The advisory group has regular meetings as well as field trips and members often are out on their own, walking trails so as to have first hand knowledge of the terrain, possibilities and problems associated with the many trails in the parks. The management plan will address all uses of the park, including mountain biking. SIMBS is hoping that there will at least be a continuous route through the three parks for mountain bikes.

Mary, Hans and Kelly.