The land forming the new park was previously part of the northern slope of the Producers Pit gravel pit and was behind the fence line that surrounded the pit. Development of the new park involved reclaiming and regrading the former pit slope.
Hatley Park now provides direct pedestrian access to Colwood's waterfront at Royal Bay from Gratton Road and Hatley Drive. For the first time, residents in the immediate neighbourhood to the east (the Cotlow and Painter Road areas) can walk to the waterfront without having to take the longer road route down to Esquimalt Lagoon via Lagoon Road or Millburn Drive. The new Hatley Park connects to the beach via a path and steps through a small inaccessible City Park (Royal Roads Park), which was originally donated by the owners of Producers Pit. The views from both Hatley Park and the beach are spectacular: east to the City of Victoria; or south and west across to the Olympics.
Parkland in the Hatley subdivision also includes another small park adjacent to Hatley Drive which protects a small cluster of Garry Oak trees. Improvements to Hatley Drive were also undertaken at this location to slow down through-traffic along the road and deter commuters from taking short cuts through the residential area.
Hatley Park is to be part of the "Perimeter Pathway", a linear park that will encircle Royal Bay upon its completion. The Pathway will be some 6 kilometers in length and be accessible to cyclists and walkers. The park provides wonderful views and will be connected by other paths to adjacent neighbourhoods both within and outside Royal Bay. One of the most dramatic parts of the Perimeter Pathway will be the park that is planned along the cliff top above the beach. In time, this park will redefine the City of Colwood, providing it with a major new continuous waterfront.
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