Burnaby approves Deer Lake Park extension design
Posted March 12, 2024 11:41 am.
The City of Burnaby is now one step closer to extending a trail loop around one of its favourite lakes.
Council approved a concept design to build a bridge connecting the Deer Lake trail together.
At Monday night’s meeting, Mayor Mike Hurley highlighted that, currently, people have to exit the trail and walk along Deer Lake Avenue to cross the water.
“I think it brings a safety element of not having to go back out onto the street, where it’s very narrow and it gets very busy there — people are forced to walk on the street, and it becomes quite dangerous at times,” he said. “I think, I support this and I look forward to seeing it as we move along.”
City of Burnaby Project Manager Isabel Londono says the whole extension is estimated to cost around $3.7 million.
“Which includes the pedestrian bridge, berth walks and pathways to connect the two sides of the creek and the existing trail,” she explained.
The foot bridge would be three metres wide and span about 36 metres, Londono added.
“Deer Lake Park is one of Burnaby’s top destinations known for its recreational, cultural, and environmental value. Over many years, the city has developed the boardwalk and Deer Lake trail network to make the lake more accessible for users,” she said.
According to the motion, the project is complex as there are both environmental and archeological aspects to consider.
Londono says the city will work to minimize the number of trees that need to be removed.
It’s expected the bridge will take up to two years to complete, though permits are still required before construction can begin.
Londono notes staff will be engaging with First Nations as part of the plan, with updates expected online.
