The City of Langford has announced it will be adding over six acres of green space to their downtown through the acquisition of Woodlands Park.
The park acquisition was unanimously approved by city council in December 2024, to address the need for additional parks, trails and open space in Langford’s downtown.
For over 60 years, Woodlands Park has been operated privately as a “manufactured home park” or mobile home park.
Longtime Langford residents Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl have been running Woodlands Park for some time, and have sold the property to the City for $9.8 million.
The amount for which the park was sold was significantly less than its appraised value of $18.125 million.
“Ralph and Laura’s vision and significant contribution to the community will create an accessible urban oasis that benefits both current and future generations,” said Scott Goodmanson, Mayor of Langford.
“This once in a generation initiative will transform Langford’s downtown by adding much needed greenspace, trails and gardens while preserving the biodiversity and mature tree canopy for residents to enjoy. I look forward to Woodlands Park providing year-round opportunities for friends and family to come together with nature in Langford’s downtown core.”
The City says the couple who sold them the land look now to retirement and the next phase of their lives.
Langford has since issued them a donation receipt of $8.325 million—the difference between the appraised value of the property and the sale value.
Next steps with the property will involve the restoration of the urban oasis. Work is slated to begin in the spring of 2030 and will include additional trails, gardens, green space, decorative fountains, landscaped ponds, picnic areas and playgrounds.
Inspiration for the site will come from Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver and the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle.
For those living in the park now, Langford will be providing supports for the next five years, until January 31st, 2030.
At that time the City will purchase each tenant’s home for 10% more than its assessed value, or they will be allowed to move their home.
Funding for the purchase of Woodlands Park will come from both the provincial government and the City.
The BC government will be providing $7 million, by way of the Growing Communities Fund provincial grant and Langford will be covering the rest, including $1 million that will be budgeted to buy out the park’s current tenant’s mobile homes.
The City says additional costs will come in 2029, when property taxes can be expected to increase by around 1.75% to pay for the transformation of the park.
