After meeting them while door-knocking in 2022, the owners of Woodlands Park approached me to help them turn their 6.6 acres into a City Park. They didn’t want to see the last significant greenspace in downtown Langford be developed into more condos. In 2030, Woodlands Park will become Langford’s newest downtown oasis.

Creating places for people 

Every year, around 2,500 people move to Langford—many of whom are making their homes in our growing City Centre. As the cost-of-living crisis drives more families into denser multi-family housing, the need for functional parks near where people actually live has never been more vital.

Looking ahead to 2030, Langford will officially open Woodlands Park. Located right behind City Hall, this 6.6-acre legacy project will create a beautiful, welcoming urban oasis for the thousands of residents living in our dense downtown core. Securing this land required significant due diligence, but the City successfully acquired this destination park for $9.8 million, which is much lower than it's assessed $18 million value. This historic investment was made possible thanks to the incredible generosity and vision of the former landowners, Ralph Stoezer and Laura Kiehl, who worked hard to steward the lands and leave a lasting legacy for our community. 

What this means for you

Looking ahead, Woodlands Park will open to the public by 2030. Located directly behind City Hall, this 6.6-acre legacy park will create a beautiful and welcoming public oasis for residents living in our dense downtown core. Securing this land was a historic fiscal win—the City acquired the $18 million property for $9.8 million, thanks to the immense generosity and community vision of landowners Ralph Stoezer and Laura Kiehl.

Until the gates open, however, the City’s absolute priority is ensuring a just, compassionate process for the current residents of Woodlands Park as they navigate a deeply significant life transition. To support them through their relocation, the City has contracted a dedicated Tenant Coordinator. Under the transition framework, residents have until 2030 to relocate and will receive the full assessed value of their manufactured home plus an additional 10%—a package that surpasses the requirements of the Provincial Manufactured Home Tenancy Act.

The acquisition and future remediation of the park are being funded responsibly through a combination of Provincial grants, reserve funds, internal debt, and property tax revenue. To manage the site transition seamlessly, the City has partnered with Knightway Mobile Haulers. Over the next four years, as the City completes the purchase of each manufactured home, Knightway will safely remove the structures from the property at no cost to the City.