Vancouver park staff brace for the next storm as cleanup continues

Park staff are bracing for the upcoming storm, but they’re still cleaning up the destruction from the last weather event in Vancouver last week.

Flooding caused massive damage in several parts of the city, as Abbotsford opened an emergency evacuation centre and a tornado appeared near Pacific Spirit Park.

Stanley Park reopened, and many others are safe to visit. But there’s still work to be done until all the parks are open, according to city staff.

UPDATE: Stanley Park has safely reopened to visitors following yesterday’s storm. The #Seawall between Third Beach and English Bay remains closed while crews work to remove debris. https://t.co/Pzx9jknUD5

— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) November 16, 2021

Chair of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks John McEwen says many locations are still closed due to the original storm.

“All the parks received some damage, trees falling, flooding, so we’ve gone through most of them and we’ve opened up areas that are safe for the public to visit,” he said.

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Anyone planning to visit a park over the next few days should check Vancouver Regional Park’s website first to make sure it’s open, says McEwen. It won’t be safe to use them until then.

“We’ve had quite a bit of damage, and that was even before the tornado hit off Pacific Spirit Park,” he said. “We experienced a lot of damage and we still haven’t completed the clean-up.”

Several regional parks remain closed following yesterday’s storm. Please check the website for the latest info. If you do visit a park, use caution as there may be debris on trails or some flooded areas. Crews are assessing damage in all parks today. https://t.co/LnFpaiC7J3 pic.twitter.com/uYGu1rV7SB

— Metro Vancouver (@MetroVancouver) November 16, 2021

While you’re there, he suggests you be careful of fallen trees and other debris that may be blocking trails.

For the next few weeks, McEwen and his colleagues will be focusing on cleanup and assessing pathways.

“We’re making sure the people that use the park, when we are able to open them up, are safe,” he said.