August 23, 2024 Update - A portion of the trail at Shoreline Park will be closed on Monday, August 26 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. for tree removal. See the map below for the closure area.
August 14, 2024 - Shoreline Park is a popular destination park that sees many visitors per year. Given the high usage of the trail and proximity to homes, the City hired Diamond Head Consulting to do a Tree Risk Assessment that focused on evaluating the likelihood of tree failure, the potential impact, and the severity of consequences in the event of a failure. Results from the assessment revealed that 20 Black Cottonwood trees pose significant public safety risks due to poor health and structural issues. For the health and safety of the Park, these trees will be removed starting August 19 for approximately two weeks, with an estimated completion date of Friday, August 30. The trail will remain open to the public during this time.
This information was presented to City Council on June 25, 2024. Watch the Council Meeting video and read the staff report to Council for more background on this topic. If you have further questions, please email ParksAndRec@pittmeadows.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the trees be replanted?
To date the City has had to remove a total of 53 trees throughout the city due to either declined health and/or public safety. The City's Tree Preservation Policy requires the replacement at either a 1-1 or 2-1 ratio depending on the size of the tree. The Parks Department has successfully planted 306 trees and shrubs across the City to date this year, with an additional 335 more trees and plants scheduled for planting this fall.
What about bank erosion once the trees are removed?
A portion of Shoreline Park falls under the "Local Authority Standard Dike" system that follows both local and Provincial standards that include regular inspections, reinforcement measures, and routine maintenance. The West area of Shoreline Park that is not a part of the dike system, borders a natural boundary managed by the Province. Many of the tree roots along Shoreline play an important role in stabilizing the soil and reducing the risk of erosion. However, the structurally compromised trees with weak root structures have the potential to exacerbate erosion by displacing bank material.
