Storm closes Stanley Park Seawall path

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Stanley Park is the green heart of Vancouver, a beloved oasis of forest, beaches and the waterfront Seawall path that draws legions of locals and tourists.

But part of the Seawall – a paved walking and biking trail that encircles the 1,000-acre park – will remain closed at least until midsummer because of damage from a fierce December storm.

The windstorm devastated the park at the tip of the downtown peninsula, with some gusts reaching almost 100 mph, and knocked down more than 10,000 trees: hemlock, Douglas fir and some centuries-old cedars. Fierce waves undermined parts of the Seawall and lifted some slabs of its pavement.

While all the park’s roads and many forest trails have been cleared of fallen trees and reopened, on its west side a mile-long stretch of the Seawall and many miles of woodland trails remain closed.

“It will be midsummer at the earliest before the Seawall reopens,” said Vancouver Park Board spokeswoman Carol DeFina. “It’s still too dangerous to work on it; we have to wait until the rains stop and things stabilize.”

The closed section of the Seawall extends from Third Beach around Prospect Point to the Lions Gate Bridge. That prevents access to one of the most scenic stretches of the Seawall, including the landmark Siwash Rock, a small, tree-topped sea stack that figures in native mythology.

The rest of the Seawall remains open, however, and visitors can cut through the heart of the park on the forested Lake Trail to make a loop.

All restaurants, park roads and major amenities are open, including the Vancouver Aquarium, the Children’s Farmyard, Miniature Railway and the Rose Garden.