Vancouver city councillor Pete Fry is advocating for the official designation of a network of forest trails in Champlain Heights as city parks to protect them from potential development. Fry highlights the unique history of the area, which was one of the last remaining wooded regions in Vancouver developed in the 1970s, featuring co-op properties built over a preserved forest with untouched trails.
With leases for the area expiring in the near future and the land currently categorized as city right-of-way, Fry is concerned about the vulnerability of the trail network to development. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining the trails for the well-being of residents and the city’s resilience.
The Vancouver Official Development plan, required by the province under Bill 18, is undergoing changes that could impact future developments in the city. Fry’s upcoming motion aims to secure protected park status for the trail network before the implementation of Vancouver’s first city-wide official development plan next year.