Thank you to everyone who participated in the public engagement in fall 2024!
We received 461 survey responses and welcomed 45 open house attendees.
Please see below for a summary of the data (graphic and written format) and a summary of the trail improvement plan that has been developed based on the input received.
Next Steps
Staff will now move forward with the Improvement Plan, with additional opportunities for engagement on concept plans as they are developed.
If you would like to be contacted for future interest holder meetings regarding trails in Silver Valley, sign up to receive project update (click or refer to the top right of this screen).
Community Engagement -
What We Learned and Trail Improvement Plan
Summary data results from the October 2024 community engagement and a summary of the resulting Trail Improvement Plan.
Improvement Plan Details
Wayfinding and Signage
Design a new signage and wayfinding system for the Silver Valley trails network including:
- A printable trail network map
- Directional trail signage
Develop a trailhead parking area
Construct a parking area at the north end of 236 Street, the top selected access point, including the following:
- Parking lot
- Washroom facility
- Trailhead signage and wayfinding
North Alouette River Crossing
Assess the feasibility of potential crossing locations for a multi-use and accessible bridge across the North Alouette River.
New Trail Connections
Prioritize construction of the most requested missing trail connections with a focus on establishing looping trail routes of 30 min to 3 hours.
The top 3 requested trail connections were:
- Trail bridge over the North Alouette River
- Continue Docksteader Trail to Anderson Creek – planned as part of an adjacent development
- Continue trail from Foreman Dr. to 134 Loop (Green Pond Trail) – planned as part of an adjacent development.
Continue to require new trail connections identified in the public engagement results through the land development process and construct new trail connections where feasible either through adjacent development or led by the City.
Engagement Results (Non-Graphic Format)
62% of respondents use the Silver Valley Trails multiple times per week with the top trail activities being walking/hiking, dog walking, trail running, mountain biking and equestrian use. These trails attract users for medium to long use times, with 50% of users spending 30-60 minutes on the trails and 42% of users spending 1-3 hours on the trails. 81% of respondents do a planned loop of the trails and 43% of users are destined for Golden Ears Provincial Park.
The top three points where users enter the trail system were:
- North end of 236 St (29%)
- North end of 240 St (12%)
- North end of Balsam St (9%)
The top identified missing trail connections were:
- 62% indicated Very Important/Important to develop a multi-use crossing of the North Alouette River. The crossing point at Shoesmith was identified as a top missing trail connection.
- Continue Docksteader trail to Anderson Creek
- Continue trail from Foreman Dr. to 134 Loop (Green Pond Trail)
The top requested trail improvements were:
- More trails (52%)
- Improved trail signage and wayfinding (47%)
- More trail loops/circular routes (38%)
- Better trail connectivity (36%)
- Add garbage and recycling cans (36%)
Community Engagement: Input on Silver Valley Trail Improvements - Complete
Online Survey and Open House
What we want to learn:
- What is important to trail users
- Trail usage patterns
- Preferred trail access points
- Desired trail improvements
- Signage and wayfinding
This engagement has now concluded. Thank you to all who participated.
A Trail Network Improvement Plan for Silver Valley
Trail improvements deliver on the goals of the City's Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan, Official Community Plan, and the Silver Valley Area Plan as part of the ongoing enhancements to the Silver Valley neighbourhood.
Background
The trails in Silver Valley form a network of urban nature trails winding through a growing neighbourhood in north Maple Ridge. Originally developed as horse trails, the trails are now multi-use and shared between pedestrians, recreational bikers, and equestrian riders.
Trails in this area offer community pedestrian connections, recreational opportunities, and nature access. An extensive trail network is a key component of the Silver Valley Area Plan.
(Figure 1) Map of the existing Silver Valley trail network. Trails shown in orange.
Silver Valley Area Plan
The Silver Valley Area Plan is part of the Official Community Plan, which guides decisions for future land use and development in Maple Ridge. It is important to ensure that as Silver Valley grows, the forested hillsides, access to recreation areas and salmon-bearing streams and rivers will be preserved, protected, and celebrated.
The Silver Valley Area Plan includes a large-scale vision for the desired trail network in Silver Valley, connecting neighbhourhood centres with each other and with nature while providing recreational trail access to the community.
(Figure 2) Official Community Plan: Silver Valley Area Plan - Land Use and Trails
Level of Engagement - Involve
The engagement for this project is at the "involve" level of the International Association for Public Participation's (IAP2) Spectrum of Public Participation. This means that we will work with you (the public) to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are reflected in the project. We will also report back on how public input influenced the decision.
Learn more about how we use the Spectrum as a foundation for community engagement here!
Translations
There is an automatic translation tool available at the top-right of this page. Languages include: Traditional Chinese [繁體中文], Simplified Chinese [简体中文] Punjabi [ਪੰਜਾਬੀ], Filipino [Tagalog], Vietnamese [Tiếng Việt], French [Français], Korean [한국어], Japanese [日本語], Spanish [Español] and more.
Please Note: Google Translate is a third-party service and we cannot guarantee the quality or accuracy of the translated content. If you require additional support, email Engage@MapleRidge.ca.
