A family home on Prospect Lake adjacent to a park has been donated to the District of Saanich to ensure the site is preserved as parkland in perpetuity.
The 2.66-acre property at 4657 Prospect Lake Rd. was owned by Betty Girardau, who died in October.
The property, which is on the water, includes a single-family residence, a wharf and a historic clubhouse that may once have been part of Prospect Lake Golf Course.
It borders South Prospect Lake Park to the northwest, while to the east, it borders land leased by Power to Be, a non-profit devoted to getting people out into nature.
One of the conditions of the donation is that the property be leased to the Girardau family for 21 years, though the family can terminate that arrangement at any time.
When the lease to the Girardau family expires, Saanich is required to maintain the property as a wilderness park that will not be built upon, subdivided, developed or sold, though it can be consolidated with South Prospect Lake Park.
Saanich will be able to install public amenities on the property and the clubhouse will be considered for heritage designation.
The district also had to commit $200,000 to be used toward the health of Prospect Lake.
Saanich says it will start setting aside $14,500 each year to cover property taxes.
Mayor Dean Murdock said the conditions were no hurdle considering the site will be preserved as a public park to be enjoyed by residents in the region.
“We are truly the fortunate beneficiaries of this very magnanimous gift,” he said. “It’s one that I know will be treasured for a long time to come and we’re delighted that we were able to do our part in order to fulfil the wishes of the property owner.”
Saanich said it’s working with the Girardau family to determine how the gift will be recognized on site.
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