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The first phase of public engagement for the proposed regional park at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island ran from February 10 to March 20, 2023. The purpose of the first phase of engagement was to listen and learn from the community.

Phase One Engagement Summary

Public Engagement

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Metro Vancouver is beginning the planning process to preserve a piece of forested and waterfront property at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island as a regional park. The park would preserve a large area of ecologically important and sensitive dry coastal bluff ecosystem and provide opportunities for residents of the region and the Bowen Island community to connect with nature. The proposed park would preserve a large area of unique and valuable habitat. A preliminary program for the proposed 97-hectare park consists of day-use and overnight uses with opportunities for tent camping, picnic areas, trails, viewpoints, and waterfront access.

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks’ role is to protect natural areas and connect people to nature. Regional parks are sustainably managed and well-maintained for the safety of visitors and integrity of ecosystems, and provide the opportunity for people to benefit from exceptional experiences in nature. Metro Vancouver has a proven track record of over five decades of responsible regional park planning, natural resource management, and operations, including Crippen Regional Park on Bowen Island. Through thoughtful planning and design, a diversity of opportunities to be active and enjoy time in nature can be provided at the proposed regional park.


About the Proposed Park

Cape Roger Curtis is eight kilometres from Snug Cove on Bowen Island. The property encompasses a large ecologically diverse dry coastal bluff waterfront, a landscape rare in the Metro Vancouver region and makes up less than one per cent of BC’s land base. It contains 15 plant communities listed as provincially threatened or endangered. The land encompasses about 700 metres of waterfront ranging from high bluffs to low bank and access to water’s edge. Along the shore, the coastal bluff plant communities are dominated by arbutus, shore pine, Douglas fir, and some 400-year-old maritime juniper. Huszar Creek flows through the site. In recent years, there have been frequent sightings of both orcas and humpback whales from this site.

The park would be adjacent to Crown land that includes the headwaters of Huszar Creek and Fairy Fen Nature Reserve, and the Wild Coast Nature Refuge. The park lies within the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with opportunities to connect local trails and beaches, and be accessible by active transportation and public transit.

Regional parks protect natural areas and connect people to nature. Regional parks protect natural areas and connect people to nature. Expanding the regional parks system is a priority identified in Metro Vancouver’s Metro Vancouver’s Board Strategic Plan, the Regional Parks Land Acquisition 2050 Strategy and the Regional Parks Plan.


 

 

Regional Parks Land Acquisition at Cape Roger CurtisRegional Parks Land Acquisition at Cape Roger Curtis672134989

Project Updates

Metro Vancouver has an agreement to purchase the land, and has initiated the process to rezone the properties and amend the Official Community Plan.


Municipal Rezoning Process

Metro Vancouver has submitted a rezoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment application to Bowen Island Municipality for the proposed regional park. The land use is currently rural residential with a minimum lot size of 4.0 hectares.

The rezoning and OCP amendment proposes a park, with a variance to allow for supervised tent camping.

This land use designation will allow for the creation of a regional park complete with conservation areas, day use amenities such as trails, picnic areas, viewpoints, and tent camping.

Input from Bowen Island Residents will inform the Bowen Island Municipality rezoning and OCP amendment process.

Read more about the municipal rezoning process and view Metro Vancouver’s rezoning application on Bowen Island Municipality’s website.


Bowen Island Municipality Rezoning Process Timeline

Note that the rezoning and OCP amendment timeline may change. For the most up-to-date information, visit Bowen Island Municipality’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How would the park be managed?

    Metro Vancouver has a proven track record of over five decades of responsible regional park management. Parks operations staff would provide patrol, bylaw enforcement, and fire and emergency planning to properly manage the park. Natural resource management and park interpretation specialists would work to conserve natural values while providing opportunities for people to connect with nature.

    Crippen Regional Park is a prime example of Metro Vancouver’s park stewardship. Approximately 55 per cent of Crippen visitors are from Bowen Island.

    Metro Vancouver also has a proven track record for responsible camping at Derby Reach Regional Park, Brae Island Regional Park, Capilano River Regional Park, and Aldergrove Regional Park. Existing group camps at Campbell Valley Regional Park, Tynehead Regional Park and Deas Island Regional Park also provide opportunities for youth and community groups to connect with nature.

  • How would the risk of forest fires be managed?

    Open campfires would not be permitted at the proposed park. All Metro Vancouver regional parks have a Fire Preparedness and Response Plan in place to address and manage wildfire risk.

    Learn more about Metro Vancouver Regional Parks wildfire preparedness and response.

  • How would camping at this site be managed?

    Camping would be supervised and bylaws that apply in Metro Vancouver regional parks, including around dogs and campfires, would be enforced.

    Providing supervised, legal campsites would prevent illegal camping, which is already taking place on the island and poses safety and fire hazards.

  • Would land be disturbed to create campsites?

    Proposed camping areas would occupy land that is already cleared and serviced, and disturbed areas that are in excess of Metro Vancouver’s needs for camping would be restored.

  • How would this affect traffic on Bowen Island?

    Park access would focus on sustainable transportation, including development of the cross-island greenway, public transit, and a possible shuttle service. A detailed transportation impact assessment, which will extend to ferry capacity, will inform sustainable transportation solutions.

    Access to nature without a vehicle is a major barrier and an equity issue. The proposed regional park at Cape Roger Curtis would provide an opportunity for residents of Metro Vancouver to experience a unique natural landscape without needing access to a vehicle.

    Only tent camping, and not RVs, would be permitted at the new regional park.

 

 

Image arbutus tree and panorama from uplandhttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-Arbutus-Upland-East-End-Property_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=20&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsImage arbutus tree and panorama from upland
Huszar Waterfallhttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-Huszar-Waterfall_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=13&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsHuszar Waterfall
Cape Roger Curtis Lighthousehttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-Lighthouse_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=14&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsCape Roger Curtis Lighthouse
Logs on east end beachhttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-Logs_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=15&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsLogs on east end beach
View from west uplandshttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-View-West-Uplands_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=19&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsView from west uplands
Upland meadowhttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-SouthWest_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=17&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsUpland meadow
Upland meadowhttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-Upland-Meadow_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=18&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsUpland meadow
Natural bonsaihttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/_t/Cape-Roger-Curtis-Natural-Bonsai_jpg.jpghttp://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/Pics/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=16&RootFolder=/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/Cape-Roger-Curtis/PicsNatural bonsai

Timeline

 

 

Winter 2022/2023False5Winter 2022/2023<div class="ExternalClass57DD59B539C34F8F8865F86B904C261A"><p>​Submit rezoning application to Bowen Island Municipality<br></p></div>
Winter/Spring 2023True1Winter/Spring 2023<div class="ExternalClassE3D48BD3BD1F4B58B320834F4976D3B6"><p>​First Phase of Engagement</p><p>Listen & Learn<br></p></div>
Spring/Summer 2023False2Spring/Summer 2023<div class="ExternalClassC2BC1BDE371C45E7B285D14DE3C10651"><p>Second Phase of Engagement</p><p>Draft Design<br></p></div>
Fall 2023False3Fall 2023<div class="ExternalClassB127F485EC734867A884691ABEF8114C"><p>Final Phase of Engagement</p><p>Final Proposed Design<br></p></div>
Fall 2023False4Fall 2023<div class="ExternalClassA3BC8B6403164944A81EB298CB73DA89"><p>Plan Approvals<br></p></div>

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Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, West Area Office

  604-224-5739

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Help Create a New Regional Park

This project is being supported by the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Metro Vancouver’s regional parks.

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