The Spirit Trail, LocalMotion and the Green City Awards
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were a flat hiking and biking trail from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove? Soon, there will be!

Ralph Sultan, John Fair of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition, and Marc Strongman, North Vancouver biker and businessman Ralph Sultan, Mayor Richard Walton of North Vancouver District, and Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transport, with emblematic over-sized cheque

With leadership from Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, and Mayors Pamela Goldsmith-Jones (West Vancouver), Richard Walton (North Vancouver District) and Darrell Mussatto (North Vancouver City), the development and construction of this trail is well launched.

MLA’s Joan McIntyre, Ralph Sultan, Katherine Whittred, and Dan Jarvis, joined forces to assist in the application process for funding from Victoria. Significant funding has been made available by the Ministry of Community Services for infrastructure on the North Shore. The first $20 million in funding was allocated province-wide under the new “LocalMotion Program.” North Shore communities piled on and received grants for the Spirit Trail bicycle and recreation path planned to run from Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay .

West Vancouver Lions Gate Bridge to Horseshoe Bay Greenway
(North Shore Spirit Trail)
Approximately 15 km in length, the West Vancouver Greenway path generally follows the foreshore, utilizing existing pathways, lanes, park roads, local roads and the rail right-of-way. Path segments independent of existing roads will be paved and lit.
The North Shore Spirit Trail will be a waterfront-oriented multi-use greenway with access from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove for pedestrians, cyclists, in-line skaters and people with wheeled mobility aids.		 $2,000,000
North Vancouver, City Waterfront Greenway (North Shore Spirit Trail)
The path will provide greenway access from the Lower Lonsdale waterfront to Moodyville Park, and onto Sunrise Park and Tilford Shopping Centre.
The North Shore Spirit Trail will be a waterfront-oriented multi-use greenway with access from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove for pedestrians, cyclists, in-line skaters and people with wheeled mobility aids.		 $980,000
North Vancouver, District Seymour River Greenway (North Shore Spirit Trail)
The goal is to provide separate path and on-road bicycle lands and sidewalks, as well as a staircase with a wheelchair accessible bypass on a 3.5-km greenway that will link North Vancouver’s alpine area with the waterfront.
$596,033
  Cates Park/Whey-ah-Wichen Park Trail
(North Shore Spirit Trail)
This will be a 1.3-km long trail through the largest waterfront park in the district. The trail will also harmonize with other recreational activities in the park including tennis and a kayak/canoe launch.
The North Shore Spirit Trail will be a waterfront-oriented multi-use greenway with access from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove for pedestrians, cyclists, in-line skaters and people with wheeled mobility aids.		 $112,200

The total $3.7 million capital contribution by the province is matched by a $3.7 million contribution from the three municipalities, yielding a total capital fund of $7.4 million which will go a long way in launching the creation of this trail.

Further capital contributions are expected, including separate funding for a critical overpass over the CN Rail track and MacKay Creek that will provide waterfront access to citizens living in Norgate and Pemberton Heights.

Other members of the team are John Fair of VACC, the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition; Marc Strongman, cycling enthusiast and local businessman; and Justin Webb, Chair of the Spirit Trail Committee and a representative of Bell, key sponsors of the 2010 Legacies project.

Finally, and most critically, the two First Nations of the North Shore, the Squamish Nation and the Tsleil Watuth Nation (Burrard Band) are working on ways to benefit from what promises to be an important tourist attraction and source of business and recreation. At the end of the day, we aspire to have an integrated path that embraces two First Nations and three municipalities, providing fitness opportunities and pleasure to tourists, local citizens, and visitors from elsewhere on the Lower Mainland, alike.

What hurdles are yet to be overcome? There are a few. Things never move as quickly as one would like at the municipal level. Mayors cannot put forth routes and commitments until they have full Council review and approval, and allocation of capital funds, matched or otherwise, is very carefully scrutinized by staff and councillors. The “Spirit”, however, is clearly there to complete this wonderful project from one end of the North Shore to the other and I, for one, cannot wait for it to be completed.


  

[top]
to Ralph's Newsletter

>> back to top <<
To receive Ralph's newsletter, please .
To remove yourself from Ralph's newsletter, please .

If there are any problems or comments that you would like to pass along about this site, please send an
email to . This site is administered by Patrick Nepomuceno
and maintained by the West Vancouver-Capilano Association of the B.C. Liberal Party