News Releases RSS FeedKanaka Creek Regional Park Expands
August 10, 2009 / 11:00 AM
Metro Vancouver announced today that it has purchased a 1.9 hectare (4.7 acre) parcel of land along the north arm of Kanaka Creek to be added to Kanaka Creek Regional Park.
"It's another great day for our regional park system", said Gayle Martin, Metro Vancouver Parks Committee Chair, "helping to ensure that yet another section of the Kanaka Creek Watershed will be protected for future generations."
A popular recreation day-use area for walkers, equestrians and naturalists, Kanaka Creek Regional Park is well known for its stunning waterfalls, sandstone canyons, scenic marshes, and fisheries enhancement activities at the Bell Irving Hatchery. Located along 12 kilometres of the main stem of Kanaka Creek, the park protects ecologically sensitive areas including fish habitat, and provides key linkages between upland terrestrial ecosystems, riparian floodplain, and wetland ecosystems along the Fraser River.
The new parkland extends up North Kanaka Creek just above Cliff Falls, adding a section of pristine wilderness to the park that includes towering forest and valuable habitat for resident rainbow and cutthroat trout. This picturesque property is visible northward from the Les Robson Trail (North Fork Loop).
"It's a beautiful and intriguing site", said Martin, "Although there is no public access at this time, the presence of existing rustic camping pads offer tremendous potential for engaging youth in a wilderness camping experience linked to the park's educational and recreational programs at the hatchery and proposed Watershed Stewardship Centre."
Attracting over 300,000 visitors annually, Kanaka Creek Regional Park is one of 22 regional parks and 5 regional greenways managed by Metro Vancouver. The addition of this parkland today helps to fulfill the goals of the Regional Parks and Greenways Plan to secure critical and sensitive habitats and environmental corridors, as well as providing recreational opportunities and programs to foster community stewardship.
Funding for the new parkland has been provided by the Heritage Parkland Acquisition Fund.
For further information contact:
Wendy DaDalt, Manager-East Area
Metro Vancouver Regional Parks
(604) 530-4983