Following acquisition of Bowater Mersey site in Milton, Nova Scotia, province gives location to the people of Queens County, will be used as community park

Kendall Sinclair

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia , December 13, 2012 (press release) –

Queens County families will continue walking the trails of beautiful parkland in the heart of their community.

Premier Darrell Dexter was joined by Region of Queens Municipality Mayor Christopher Clarke today, Dec. 12, to give the Pine Grove Park to the people of Queens County.

The province acquired the 57-acre park in Milton as part of the purchase of timber lands owned by Bowater Mersey Paper Company.

"Pine Grove Park is a place where families can spend time together and enjoy the forest that makes up our province's beautiful landscape," said Premier Dexter. "As the park's new owners, the people of Queens County no longer have to worry about who might buy the park or what could become of it.

"I'm pleased that it will remain an important part of this community, and I thank Bowater for maintaining the park so well over the past 25 years."

Bowater's parent company Resolute donated $250,000 to the municipality to assist with park operations over the next 10 years.

"I am so delighted that Pine Grove will belong to the residents of Queens. I helped develop Pine Grove with Capt. Richard Steele when I worked with Bowater so it has a special place in my heart," said Mr. Clarke. "He was awarded the Order of Canada for his work with horticulture.

"The park also is very important not just to the people of Queens but elsewhere in the province to people who visit often. Capt. Steele always commented on its natural beauty and its magnificent forest floor. I would particularly like to thank Resolute for the generous donation to help us maintain the park."

Established in 1987, the 57-acre community park in Milton has three kilometers of trails for walking or biking and a picnic area overlooking the Mersey River.

The park's trails pass through tall pine trees with a few mixed hardwoods scattered throughout the forest. Early summer weather colours the forest with rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas, and wild orchids. The park's scenic beauty makes it the ideal location for artists to capture nature at its best.

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