As a sunny long weekend approaches, Metro Vancouver is closing the parking lots at Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve in hopes more people will follow the provincial health officer’s directive to stay close to home and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Lynn Headwaters and the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve will remain open; however, visitor access will be by foot or by bicycle only. Capilano River Regional Park also remains open.
The province and local governments have had a difficult time keeping visitors a safe distance apart in popular outdoor areas during the pandemic.
BC Parks has closed Cypress Provincial Park and Mount Seymour Provincial Park, along with all other provincial parks.
The District of West Vancouver is now employing park rangers to help prevent groups of people from gathering at its most popular destination parks, most of which have already had their parking lots closed.
The District of North Vancouver has closed the Quarry Rock trail and the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Because so many visitors were still coming and parking on side streets, the district announced Wednesday that Deep Cove Road, Mt. Seymour Road, Gallant Avenue/Panorama Drive and Indian River Drive/Inlet Crescent would be designated for local traffic only with bylaw staff on patrol for violators.
Elsewhere in the region, Metro Vancouver is closing Barnston Island Regional Park, Brae Island Regional Park, Boundary Bay Regional Park, and Deas Island Regional Park.
More parks may be closed if visitors aren’t maintaining at least two metres of physical distance from one another, or if people are seen using closed playgrounds or picnic shelters, the release warned.
“Together we make the region strong, but if we want parks to remain open, we must all do our part, and stay apart,” a release from Metro stated.
BC AdventureSmart, meanwhile, is asking anyone venturing outside to tread lightly and choose only low-risk activities.
“Ask yourself: What if I get lost? What if I get hurt? What if I need search and rescue? What if I’m asymptomatic?” the group said in a release Thursday.
