Road through Surrey's Bear Creek Park draws opposition
A proposal to push a major road through a popular Surrey park is drawing opposition from local politicians and environmental groups.
Bear Creek Park
Municipal staff are recommending Surrey pave a new route through the two-hectare Bear Creek Park at 84 Avenue in order to reduce traffic at the most accident-prone intersection in the city — nearby King George Highway and 88 Avenue.
Coun. Linda Hepner said she tentatively supports the idea because it does not make sense to have such a large area in the middle of the city without a road through it.
"All the way up to 88th ... we're at least a mile and a half to two miles between east-west connections ... In a city, that doesn't make a lot of sense," she said.
A report on the proposal was presented to council on Monday night, but the final decision on the proposed road has not yet been made.
However, both the federal Conservative MP for Surrey North, Dona Cadman, and the provincial NDP MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers, Sue Hammell, have written letters to the city voicing their opposition to the plan.
This is the fourth time the city has resurrected the idea, says Surrey resident George Zaklan, who heads a group called Friends of Bear Creek Park.
Zaklan said he has been battling with the city over the issue for 20 years and plans to continue his fight.
"Bear Creek Park and King Creek will both be affected ... and these are the few sockeye salmon spawning streams that we have in Surrey," said Zaklan.
Residents will also have a chance to voice their opinions on the plans at upcoming public consultations, said Hepner.