Councillor calls for greenway in Vancouver's northeast

Vancouver's northeastern corner could have its own pedestrian and cycling greenway if a motion set to go before council succeeds.

The motion, put forward by Vision Vancouver Coun. Andrea Reimer and seconded by Mayor Gregor Robertson, calls for the northeast quadrant to become a priority in the city's greenway program.

"On the northeast quadrant of the city, they have by far the lowest per capita green space, they have the lowest tree canopy cover, and yet also the lowest incomes," Reimer told CBC.

"Particularly if you are a renter who doesn't have control over a private space … it becomes much more critical for you to have quality public green spaces."

She wants to see funding for an "East Van City Greenway" included in the capital plan for 2019 to 2022.

Council is set to vote on the motion at Monday's meeting.

Vancouver's eventual goal is to create enough greenways that every home is within a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute bike ride from one.

A total of 17 greenways are planned for the city, including several that are already in place throughout the rest of the city — routes like the seawall, the North Arm Trail and the Arbutus Greenway.

"I think equity is very important in the city, and there are some fantastic greenways in every other area of the city. The northeast deserves one, too," Reimer said.

The city's plan lays out three proposed routes in the northeast, which Reimer defines as the area north of Grandview Highway, between Main Street and Boundary Road.

One begins at the port and runs parallel to the shore of the Burrard Inlet; another starts at Hastings Park and cuts south, running down to Fraserview Golf Course and the Fraser River; and the third would follow the Woodland Drive bike lane from the north and turn west onto 10th Avenue.

With files from Deborah Goble

​Read more from CBC British Columbia