An unsanctioned bike park and some unofficial trails in Mundy Park will be decommissioned over the next two months, the city of Coquitlam announced last week.
The work is necessary to protect the 400-acre green space’s ecosystem, said Lanny Englund, the city’s manager of park planning and forestry, noting that the area has sustained some vandalism and tree damage since it was set up.
“Some folks have gone in, moved dirt around, built jumps and small structures where we had no intention of putting a bike park,” he told The Tri-City News yesterday. “The forest management plan doesn’t identify that as a use in the forest in Mundy Park.”
Englund said a new bike park is expected to be installed across the street in the Riverview forest in the near future. Work on the project is expected to take place in 2018 and the city will be looking for input from the community, including the Tri-City Off-Road Cycling Association.
Some unsanctioned foot paths will also be decommissioned as part of the Mundy work.
Last year, the city formalized a new 1-km loop that was worn into the forest by park users, but Englund said several other trails will be shut down for good.
As part of the remediation work, some tree removal in the southwest area of the park that has been significantly damaged will be required. A large compensation planting will also take place as part of the restoration and the city is encouraging residents to assist. Details will be released at a later date.
In the meantime, park users should expect some trail closures over the next two months while equipment is moved in to the area and some tree removal work is undertaken.
• Residents interested in learning more about Mundy Park and its 16-km trail network or want to become involved in park stewardship can visit www.coquitlam.ca/mundy.
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