Metro Vancouver recently received federal and provincial funding to improve Grouse Mountain Regional Park.
The Grouse Mountain Trail and Amenity grant will provide $2.6 million towards realizing the vision established in the park management plan. The grant, which is provided through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, is part of the $3.5 million required for park upgrades.
Grouse Mountain Regional Park joined Metro Vancouver’s parks system in 2017 and receives over 600,000 visitors a year. The park is home to mature forest, pockets of old-growth forest and the western portion of the upper MacKay Creek watershed. Several species-at-risk use the habitat, including northern red-legged frog and band-tailed pigeon.
The 75-hectare regional park includes the Grouse Grind Trail, the British Columbia Mountain Club (BCMC) Route, and a portion of the Baden-Powell Trail.
Improvements will take place from 2020-2024 and will involve:
- upgrades to the Grouse Grind Trail and BCMC Route;
- an expanded entry plaza to accommodate growing park use;
- new connector trails lower on the mountain that will improve accessibility of the park for a range of visitors;
- viewpoints, interpretation and safety signage; and
- ecological enhancements to ensure the park is resilient over the long term.
Regional parks protect important ecosystems and provide people with an opportunity connect with nature and each other. Park visitation has increased substantially in the last year and continues to grow throughout the region.
