Those of you who live near Quarry Rock trail may have noticed a rather unusual sight early last month: a helicopter hovering low in the sky with a load of lumber hanging from it.
The lumber was destined for the trail, part of routine maintenance work district crews were conducting.
If it seems to you like this type of work is happening more frequently, you’d be right. The district’s network of trails and greenspaces has experienced a surge in popularity over the last several years.
Much of that is thanks to the proliferation of social media.
Photo-sharing applications such as Instagram have turned picturesque spots around the world into overnight tourist attractions. We’ve witnessed this phenomenon across the North Shore and Quarry Rock is a good local example.
Trail counts conducted in 2016 estimated 4,000 people per week during the peak summer season were hiking to Quarry Rock.
At least half of those visits were on the weekend. And if last year is any indication, this year will be as busy as ever. Hikers from across the region and abroad are drawn to the unparalleled view at the top – a pleasing reward for a challenging uphill climb. Interestingly, though the trail itself weaves through district parkland, that renowned outcropping of rock that has been the backdrop of so many Instagram photos is, in fact, on private property.
As the number of people using our parks increases, so does the need for maintenance work to keep our trails in good shape. Over the last five years, the district’s parks department has done a tremendous amount of work along the Quarry Rock trail.
They have replaced and repaired several sections, including 30 metres of stairs and 60 feet of new boardwalk, and they are currently replacing a footbridge. Much of this work is required as infrastructure along the trail reaches the end of its useful life. Some of it however, is necessary because Quarry Rock is attracting more visitors than ever before.
While the influx of visitors is a boon for locally owned and operated businesses, there are challenges that arise as we welcome more people into our recreational areas. On Quarry Rock, more hiking boots hitting the pathway has meant faster erosion of the trail surface.
There is more garbage being left behind by careless hikers, and more frequent rescues are required as folks head into wilderness park areas unprepared.
To help manage these issues, during the peak season each year we hire seasonal park rangers to patrol and engage with visitors. We’ve also installed new safety signage, reminding people how to be prepared before they head out.
Maintenance and upkeep of these areas is costly. This year alone the district has budgeted nearly a million dollars for trail maintenance and capital upgrades to parks across the municipality. We’re committed to managing growth and interest in our parks and trails in a way that is both sustainable, and that allows generations yet to come the opportunity to enjoy this natural landscape we’re so fortunate to call home.
