Government hopes to sell old Holyrood Pond Park

By Mark Squibb/October 21, 2021

The provincial government is hopeful that a business owner with deep pockets will be willing to invest in the old Holyrood Pond Park on the bottom of the southern Avalon.

An official request for proposals was issued by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Friday, October 22.

The 215 hectares of park land was sold off by the province as a cost-saving measure in the early 1990s and has grown wild and unkempt since.

The property value has been calculated at $350,000, plus HST, although the final price is contingent on the total area of the land survey and is thus subject to change. The successful applicant will be responsible for both obtaining and paying for the land survey. As there is no access from Route 90, the applicant would also be responsible for a department approved road access to and from the park. The new owner will also have to deal with roadways within the park, which have severely deteriorated over the years, along with a derelict concrete bridge.

Proposals will be evaluated by a Parks Review Committee, and only proposals for RV parks, resorts, campgrounds, cottage rentals, and tourist attractions will be accepted.

Proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 26.