BC Parks Foundation
Massive Park Expansion in West Vancouver, Twice the Size of Stanley Park, Supported by BC Parks Foundation
May 27, 2024
Massive Park Expansion in West Vancouver, Twice the Size of Stanley Park, Supported by BC Parks Foundation
More than 780 hectares of mountain forest is being protected and a new Cypress Hollyburn Legacy Fund will help keep it beautiful forever.
May 27, West Vancouver, BC: A broad expanse of West Vancouver’s mountainside, which forms a stunning backdrop to Vancouver, will remain protected forever, thanks to a massive new park being created by the District of West Vancouver. To support stewardship and responsible use in the area, the BC Parks Foundation is launching a Cypress Hollyburn Legacy Fund with a $3m matching gift from the Wilson 5 Foundation.
“Today we are proud to share we will be protecting 781 hectares – or 1932 acres – of forest land as our gift to our community and the world,” says Mayor Mark Sager. “This area will help preserve sensitive ecosystems and wildlife and store carbon to fight climate change. It will also ensure that old growth trees will continue to stand in our stunning municipality, which we know is very important to our residents and people across the globe. We also recognize that this new park dedication will maintain the beautiful view of the mountains, which is something that everyone in the metro region can enjoy.”
The area is almost double the size of Stanley Park. It is a key puzzle piece in a larger system of protected areas, including Cypress Provincial Park, Capilano and Seymour Watersheds and other parks within the District of West Vancouver. It also protects lands around the Old Growth Conservancy, home to an important stand of old growth trees in West Vancouver. Combined, these areas cover more than 32,000 hectares – one of the largest protected areas in the world so close to a major urban centre.
“We are thrilled to be able to help protect this iconic Vancouver landscape and all of its wonderful values,” says Andy Day, CEO of the BC Parks Foundation. “It’s the right thing to do at this moment in history-- people coming together to do something tangible, positive, and lasting for the planet and people’s health.”
The Wilson 5 Foundation’s gift is a matching challenge – they will match every dollar contributed to the Fund, up to $3million.
“I can’t think of any better and more lasting way of giving back to the whole community,” say Chip and Summer Wilson. “Protecting and taking care of a place like this is good for people and other species now and far into the future. It’s a beacon of hope and we hope others will join us in contributing and keeping it beautiful for all to enjoy, forever.”
Matt Davies of Cypress Mountain Resorts also supports the new Fund, saying that it will help ensure lasting stewardship and responsible and safe enjoyment of the area. “Cypress Provincial Park is the most popular provincial park in BC—people love it up here. We all need to do what we can to keep this area beautiful. We’ll be proud to help contribute to this new Fund.”
Park dedication for this area has been strongly supported by community groups for years. In 1990 citizens rallied to stop a golf course proposal, resulting in the creation of the Old Growth Conservancy, which is managed by the District in partnership with a local non-profit group. Outside the Conservancy, many groups including the BC Mountaineering Club, West Vancouver Streamkeepers, Hollyburn Ridge Association, Friends of Cypress Provincial Park and the North Shore Mountain Bike Association are actively supporting trails, creeks, education and other work.
“This is fabulous,” says Alan Bardsley, a volunteer who has been part of the Old Growth Conservancy Society, mountain biking, and other advocacy in the area for 17 years. “This place has an absolutely wonderful forest ecology. There are so many magnificent old-growth trees. And the Fund is much needed for safe and responsible use of the area. It will bring people together to keep this area beautiful for everyone to enjoy.”
The District looks forward to meaningful conversations with the community and First Nations about the future of this newly-dedicated park.
We invite you to join us in preserving this massive new park for future generations of British Columbians and visitors to our province. By contributing to the Cypress Hollyburn Legacy Fund, you’ll ensure this expansive area of forested mountainside in West Vancouver is protected, well-stewarded, and responsibly used forever. With the Wilson 5 Foundation’s generous matching challenge, every dollar you donate will be doubled, making an even greater impact. Please give today to be a part of this iconic legacy.
Media Contacts
Randene Neill, Communications
BC Parks Foundation
c: 604-970-1652 | e: randene.neill@bcparksfoundation.ca
Carrie Gadsby, Director, Community Relations & Communications
District of West Vancouver
c: 778-870-0670 | e: cgadsby@westvancouver.ca
Media Resources available here.
FAQs available here.
About the District of West Vancouver
West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada.
About BC Parks Foundation
The BC Parks Foundation is the official charitable partner to parks and protected areas in BC. Our mission is to create the greatest system of parks and Indigenous protected areas on earth.
About Wilson 5 Foundation
The Wilson 5 Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 2012 by Chip and Summer Wilson. The foundation partners with world class organizations and invests time, knowledge, and resources to create what otherwise might not occur. The Wilson 5 Foundation is focused on funding land conservancy, park creation and sharing public art in British Columbia.
FAQ
Where is the new park?
Why is it important?
The 781 hectare park is almost double the size of Vancouver’s famous Stanley Park and forms part of Vancouver’s scenic backdrop. It is a central puzzle piece in a larger connected system of protected areas, including Cypress Provincial Park, Capilano and Seymour Watersheds and other parks within the District of West Vancouver. It also protects lands around the Old Growth Conservancy, home to an important stand of old growth trees. Combined, these areas cover more than 32,000 hectares – one of the largest protected areas in the world so close to a major urban centre.
The park will produce many benefits for people and the planet. It is great for our health and recreation, for viewscapes, for storing carbon, and for producing clean water and regulating water flow.
It’s also particularly important to address the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change facing BC and the world. Wildlife populations around the world have declined an estimated 69% since 1970. Less than 23% of the world's landmass can now be considered wilderness, with the rest, excluding Antarctica, lost to the direct effects of human activities. Only a fraction of remaining wild areas are larger than 100 square kilometres. Protecting this area helps local wildlife populations and encourages BC and the world to meet its target of protecting 30% of the world’s ecosystems by 2030.
Will it become a municipal or a provincial park? What will it be called?
The new park will be a District of West Vancouver park.
A process to officially name the park will be developed and naming options will be presented to Council for their consideration at a later date.
Why is the area being protected now? Isn’t it already protected?
While the area is currently used recreationally, formalizing these lands into park protects the natural and recreational assets valued by hikers, trail runners, dog walkers, birders, nature enthusiasts, mountain bikers, Hollyburn cabin users, and others in the community.
Council has voted to provide long-term protection to this area through a park dedication bylaw. The dedication of parks, in accordance with the Community Charter, is difficult to remove once established.
By dedicating these municipally owned lands as park, the community benefits knowing these highly valued lands, including the recreational and ecological resources and old-growth trees, will be protected into the future. Formally protecting the area also brings more focus and resources for management.
When will it be accessible to the public?
How much will it cost each year to maintain the new park?
What is the Cypress Hollyburn Legacy Fund?
The Cypress Hollyburn Legacy Fund is a new fund to improve stewardship, experiences, accessibility, and safety in the Cypress Hollyburn region. It acts like a hospital or educational foundation, providing funding and volunteerism for projects above and beyond core government budgets.
Examples of projects include things like building and maintaining trails and bridges, wildlife research, wildfire prevention, invasive species removal, wayfinding, and guided and self-guided experiences.
The new Fund won’t just support the new park, but the entire area surrounding it, including Cypress Provincial Park.
The Wilson 5 Foundation has generously committed to match every donation into the new Fund, up to $3 million.
How can we donate to the Cypress Legacy Fund?
Will community and volunteer groups be involved in the new park?
In recent years, partnerships have emerged amongst user groups and the District. In 2022, agreements were formed between the District, British Pacific Properties (BPP), and the North Shore Mountain Bike Association (NSMBA).
A Right of Way obtained over BPP lands provides access to mountain bike trails. These trails are now maintained by the District by way of a contract with NSMBA, who has been very successful in obtaining funding for the maintenance of these trails.
Other partnerships include the following:
- Old Growth Conservancy Society provides monitoring and education about the Old Growth Conservancy, old growth tree protection, and education in general.
- BC Mountaineering Club have expertly repaired a large portion of the Baden Powell Trail over the past five years, commencing where the trail turns north along the Skyline Trail to the BC Parks boundary.
- West Vancouver Streamkeepers provide expertise and resources to care for creeks.
- Hollyburn Ridge Association provides advice and education on the cabin area, as well as trail stewardship in that area.
Seeing the success of these partnerships and other relationships, it is clear there is consistent interest in the community to look after its public lands, including the new park.
Dedicating this large area as park provides the opportunity for a conversation with the community about how to continue to maintain the District’s valued recreational and ecological assets in the Upper Lands.
Was it private land?
What role will First Nations play?
What happens next?
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