Willband Creek Park will undergo revitalization efforts to curb invasive species and increase waterfowl habitat with support from a grant awarded to the city this week.
The park, located at 34900 Bateman Road off of Highway 11, is a popular recreation area in Abbotsford.
The work is made possible by a $7,500 grant that was awarded this week by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) and Tree Canada, which the city will match through in-kind and cash funding.
Willband Creek Park hosts trails that are built around storm water detention ponds. The area has a diverse waterfowl population, various species of migratory birds and other wildlife. But canary grass and Himalayan blackberry grow throughout the park, both of which are invasive plants that choke out native vegetation and decrease habitats for waterfowl.
The city was awarded the grant in collaboration with the Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club, with which it will work to upgrade the park by planting native shrub and tree species and removing invasive species to improve biodiversity.
Alhough a timeline for the work has not been set, the city will contribute further with an extensive maintenance plan that will be implemented at the end of the project.