Construction of Willingdon Linear Park is about three-quarters finished.
Jonathan Helmus, assistant director of engineering with the City of Burnaby, told the NOW all the water main work is done.
“The park, pocket parks, signals, concrete work, pavement work is almost complete,” he said. “Construction will continue into 2018, largely focused on the completion of public art and landscaping.”
The $15-million project will run 1.2 kilometres along the east side of Willingdon Avenue, and will connect Confederation Park to Brentwood Town Centre.
The park is partly funded through the density bonus program – money developers fork over to the city for increased density. The money is used to pay for community amenities and affordable/special needs housing.
In January, council approved that $6.45 million be taken from the density bonus program and another $6.75 be taken from capital reserves. TransLink has also pitched in $3.4 million in grants, according to Helmus.
The city’s description of Willingdon Linear Park notes it will include a universally accessible paved multiuse pathway separated from the road, multiple road and laneway crossings over the 13 blocks, site furnishings, lighting, shade trees, rest stops and bus stop zones.
“It’s quite a natural grade. It’s a nice route to walk along or bike along,” said Helmus.
But not everyone has been a proponent of the park. Last November, members of HUB Burnaby, the local branch of a non-profit group that promotes cycling in the community, made a presentation to council about how the project needs to have separated walking and cycling facilities to make it safer and to attract people.
They also called for more consultation on the project, suggesting there was only one design concept at open houses and groups like HUB were not consulted. At an open house last fall, a survey found 79 per cent of respondents supported the proposal, according to a staff report.
At the time, Mayor Derek Corrigan noted another urban trail known as the 7-Eleven Trail that cuts through South Burnaby integrates both bikes and pedestrians without any problems.
“While I appreciate the drama, our experience has been quite the contrary in regard to other options we have in the city,” he said.
Construction will continue into the fall. Helmus said the corridor will be open by next summer.
