No bike path through Hadden Park or Kits Beach says Park Board

There will be no separated bike path through Hadden Park and Kitsilano Beach says the Vancouver Park Board.

Chair Niki Sharma issued the following statement Monday evening regarding the proposed bike path in Hadden and Kits Beach parks, and the related lawsuit.

“We’ve heard clearly from the public that there is significant concern with any proposed changes to Hadden Park. Tonight, the Park Board gave direction to staff to discontinue proceeding with any options for a new path through Hadden Park, and to communicate that to the petitioner in the B.C. Supreme Court application. The Park Board will not be pursuing a new separated path through Hadden Park or at Kits Beach.

“The Park Board will continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the safety and enjoyment for both cyclists and pedestrians. The Board directed staff to explore ways to improve safety on the existing route through Hadden and Kitsilano Beach Park. Staff will also be relocating the funds from this project to other pedestrian and cycling safety priorities for the Park Board around the city.”

Since the word got out about the Park Board’s plans to lay down an asphalt bike path through Hadden and Kits Beach Parks, a lot of residents have not been happy. Most said safety was the biggest issue, with another being money. The path, which would have been about three-and-a-half metres wide, would cost more than two million dollars to build.

In November, plans for the bike path were put on hold after a legal petition was launched claiming the proposed path would violate the wishes of the man who donated the park to the city.

NPA Park Board Commissioners John Coupar and Melissa De Genova issued a statement saying they were thrilled with this the announcement Monday evening. “I’m happy to see that, after a widespread public outcry, this proposal has been stopped,” Coupar said. “The community was clear in their opposition to the plan.”

De Genova, who serves as the Park Board’s liaison to the city’s Seniors Advisory and Persons With Disabilities committees, said in the release committee members were “disturbed” by the lack of public consultation around the paving plan when she alerted them to what was being planned.

“I am thrilled that Vision Vancouver has reversed their plans. It is unfortunate that it took huge public outrage to get to this result,” said De Genova. “Kits Beach and Hadden Park are unique to Vancouver and I’m happy that we won’t be putting blacktop through our precious green space.”