The City of Delta is asking Metro Vancouver to enhance safety measures for users at Boundary Bay Regional Park.
In a letter to regional board chair Sav Dhaliwal, Mayor George Harvie requested the addition of a new path and a review of the trail network.
The popularity of the park, combined with the burgeoning use of new modes of transportation like electric bicycles, is creating unsafe situations for pedestrians and other casual users of the park, Harvie stated.
“The top priority for enhancing safety is a new path along the park side of Boundary Bay Road along with improvements to the park entrance to separate pedestrians from bicycles and vehicles,” he said. “A proposed perimeter trail alongside Boundary Bay Road was included in a park plan dating back to 1996 and we think this would be a good time to re-examine that proposal in connection with the current use patterns. We look forward to the opportunity to tie our active transportation network into such a new path constructed by Metro Vancouver, which would ensure that people can safely access the park via whatever transportation mode best suits them.”
Harvie noted a review of the trail network can determine how additional trails may reduce conflict between the different users.
Meanwhile, Metro Vancouver, which has acquired properties over the years, has given preliminary approval to amend the regional land use designation of 71 properties in the region to “Conservation” or “Recreation.”
The lands were acquired for use as parkland and greenway, but none are located in the City of Delta.
Boundary Bay Regional Park and Deas Island Regional Park in Delta are already designated for conservation and recreation in the regional growth strategy.
