Waterfront Landing Park
April 27, 2021 Update: Tree removal and invasive species removal authorized by District permits will be taking place during April-May 2021. Trees removed will be replaced by healthy native trees and shrub/grass plantings appropriate for the shoreline habitat.
Waterfront Landing is located on the south east side of the Mamquam Blind Channel, adjacent to Highway 99 on the old Interfor Mill site. A new District-owned community park is being developed at Waterfront Landing that includes walkways, lookout points, and active play areas as well as natural areas and shoreline restoration as illustrated below.
Protecting and Restoring the Shoreline
The shoreline adjacent to Waterfront Park provides a rich marine and intertidal habitat that supports many species of birds, fish and other wildlife. A primary goal of the park design is to restore and enrich this environment using Green Shores principles as much as possible (note: a portion of the shoreline area is Crown land, outside the park property). Because of site contamination from previous industrial use, some of the soil and vegetation has been removed and will be replaced with new soil and replanted with a diverse mix of native vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses). Due to poor health of many trees adjacent to the shoreline, a number require removal prior to park development. An environmental Development Permit (DP 499) was issued by the District in April 2021 to guide the restoration of the shoreline and lagoon area, featuring extensive native plantings, removal of invasive species and shoreline fencing to protect the restored areas.
Park Design
The conceptual park plan for Waterfront Park is shown below. Some minor changes to the plans are currently being completed to reduce the extent of paved walkways in the upper park area. The full set of plans will be posted in the next weeks when finalized. Click the images below to view full size.
Timing of Park Construction
Park construction is expected to take place from spring 2021 to completion in fall of 2022. Work in 2021 will include removal of designated vegetation, construction of a new retaining wall adjacent to the lagoon and placement of new structural fill material in the park. Work in late 2021 to mid 2022 will include construction of pathways and services, park structures. Planting and final finishing will take place in late fall 2022.
Further Information
- Detailed Bio-Inventory Waterfront Landing North Park Revision 4, March 26, 2021, prepared by Keystone Environmental
- Greenshores Principles Waterfront Landing North Park, February 15, 2019, prepared by Keystone Environmental
- Arboricultural Inventory and Report, February 17, 2021, prepared by Diamond Head Consulting
- Invasive Species Management Plan, March 24, 2021, prepared by Keystone Environmental
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at planning@squamish.ca or call 604.815.5017.