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District closes part of Hackett Park to make space for archeological work

The District of Sechelt is closing part of Hackett Park to create a space for archeologists to screen material removed during construction work on a $6.058-million Trail Avenue improvement project. The closure went into effect Sept.
Hackett Park
Map showing the closed portion of Hackett Park and the area where archeological work is taking place.

The District of Sechelt is closing part of Hackett Park to create a space for archeologists to screen material removed during construction work on a $6.058-million Trail Avenue improvement project.

The closure went into effect Sept. 24 and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.

The area being set aside for the archeological work is the in the lower portion of the treed area and the district said in a Sept. 24 release that the playground, tennis courts, washrooms, trails and playing fields will remain open and accessible.

Once the archeological investigation is complete, the soil will be spread throughout the treeless section of Hackett Park to create a gentle slope in the area and the grass will be replanted.

“Whenever we dig a hole in Sechelt, we consult with archeologists to screen the soil to ensure we are not disturbing important artifacts,” said engineering manager Sanath Bandara.

“There was a lot of soil removed during the Trail Avenue improvements, and the parks department is working with us to ensure this important work is completed off-site so the road can remain open.”

According to the district, provincial regulations require any material excavated under an archeological permit to be held close to the area of archeological interest.