An open letter to District of North Vancouver mayor and council:
Re: Lynn Canyon Parking Lot Project Scaled Back, Oct. 18 news story.
It is with shock and disbelief that we learned about the proposed tree removal in Lynn Canyon Park.
The question that came to mind immediately was: What should be the goal of any work done in Lynn Canyon Park?
Should it be to make this little jewel of nature more accessible for a quick visit by car or should the goal be to preserve this park in its most natural state for future generations?
We, the residents in the immediate vicinity of the park are very fortunate to live by the park where we are able to observe owls, bear, coyote, birds, salamanders, skunks, racoons and many more species up close. These critters depend on this natural environment and its mature trees.
The current district plan has now changed from cutting down 74 mature trees to 52 trees. Let me reiterate that these trees have been deemed healthy by a tree specialist. The district keeps insisting to pave the parking lot.
Ask yourselves the question: where does it stop? Are we making the parking lot bigger again in five years, then 10 years?
Currently you enter the park in a circular loop. You go in one way and out the other. It is really not very difficult to keep driving in one direction: in one side, out the other.
[Section manager for parks and planning] Susan Rogers mentions flooding. Yesterday, after heavy rains there was no flooding to be observed, just a bit of natural accumulation of water. She continues to say that Mayor Mike Little was shocked to see how hard the park is to access for a person in a wheelchair.
May I point out that we are in a canyon, it is called Lynn Canyon. Every single trail starts with steep stairs. I doubt that paving the parking lot will help with this issue.
In the midst of the park is the “ecology centre,” a place where we learn about the impact of cutting down trees and the importance of trees to filter air. Hasn’t this centre been implemented by the same organization that now seems in favour of destroying part of this paradise?
The park and the animals are in dire need of our protection. We have already infringed our activity on much of their habitat.
While we fully understand that there is a need for all of us to enjoy this park, may we propose the following:
- Direct people to the huge, almost always empty parking lots by the water filtration plant, located off the northern end of Lillooet Road near the Lower Seymour Conservation Area. Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and all trails are easily accessible from here.
- Transform all existing parking at the Ecology Center into disabled and family with small children only parking.
- Leave the one-hour-only parking restriction at the streets where already installed on Robinson Road.
- Talk to the school district to see whether during the weekends, the parking lots of Brockton and Ross Road schools could be used.
- Implement a summertime shuttle bus that runs from Peters Road and or Brockton/Ross Road schools to the ecology centre. Charge a small fee for that.
You were elected to represent the needs of your constituents. You were elected to consult with them. This has not been done.
Many residents of the North Shore who are not at all in favour of the changes proposed, have approached you. Listen to them.
We are expecting that you will take these concerns seriously. We are eager to hear your reponse.
Susanne and
Christophe Simon
Lynn Valley
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