Today the District of West Vancouver officially announced their partnership between British Pacific Properties, and us, the NSMBA!
The article is phrased below. To visit the official news page and article, visit the District of West Vancouver’s website.
DISTRICT OF WEST VANCOUVER PARTNERS WITH BRITISH PACIFIC PROPERTIES AND NORTH SHORE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN RECREATIONAL TRAILS IN THE UPPER LANDS
The District of West Vancouver has partnered with British Pacific Properties (BPP) and the North Shore Mountain Bike Association (NSMBA) to build a new multi-use trail in the Rodgers Creek area to Marr Creek area of the Upper Lands and formalize three existing mountain biking trails.
These recreational trails are located between the second and fourth switchbacks of Cypress Bowl Road on land owned by BPP and the District, and a right-of-way agreement gives mountain bikers, hikers, and other recreational trail users access to BPP lands in this area. With a financial contribution from BPP for construction of trails, the District will work with NSMBA to maintain these trails for public recreational use.
The NSMBA has long-standing partnerships with several land managers across North Vancouver and has been maintaining trails in the community since 1997, using a unique model, including volunteer trail days and fundraising to engage the community in caring for the trails they use.
This agreement fulfills a long-term commitment by the District and BPP to bring sanctioned mountain bike trails to West Vancouver for the first time and extends NSMBA’s positive impact on the North Shore to the benefit of outdoor enthusiasts.
Developed in consultation with stakeholders, the agreement outlines the creation of a bi-directional hiking and uphill mountain biking trail as a reconstruction of the historic Old Forks Trail, a route once used by hikers and skiers to reach the Hollyburn area. This new trail will provide safe and enjoyable access for all recreational trail users. Additionally, three existing mountain biking trails—Meat Sweats, Jersey Shore and Morgies—will be formalized, and trail maintenance will commence to improve safety while maintaining the integrity of the original trails.
Trails users are asked to use caution on existing trails over the next several months as trail maintenance projects will be getting underway shortly. Work on reconstructing the historic Old Forks Trail will begin in 2022. Please watch for updates on a call for volunteers to support a trail-building day.
This partnership furthers Council’s Strategic Goal to improve the community’s social well-being by initiating a volunteer stewardship program to improve our trails, and is also in line with the Official Community Plan’s aim to maintain authorized trails in the Upper Lands in a way that respects the needs of landowners and balances recreational uses with environmental and cultural values.