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Page 21 Royals rule 604-463-2281
April 27, 2010
Zip-line, tightropes proposed to replace campsite
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AMY STEELE asteele@mrtimes.com
Maple Ridge could be home to a new family-friendly aerial adventure course, including zip lines, walkways and bridges suspended between trees in Maple Ridge Park if council approves the idea. WildPlay Element Parks, which already operates in Nanaimo, Whistler and Victoria, wants to start an aerial adventure course this summer. Maple Ridge council will vote on the proposal at tonightâs meeting. WildPlay would design, construct and manage two aerial adventure courses. The company estimates it would spend $760,000 to build the project and would have 21,000 clients by the end of its third year. The district would shut down Maple Ridge campground if the proposal goes ahead. David Boag, director of parks and facilities at the District of Maple Ridge, told council local residents are concerned about traffic and parking if the facility is built because both are already a challenge. People also expressed concern about the environmental impact of the site. WildPlay is hoping to open the business by mid-June and would need four to six weeks to build the courses. Boag said the operation would boost local tourism and its location just before the heavily used Golden Ears Provincial Park would help ensure its success. A tree inventory survey has already been done and the trees that would be used are ideal and sound, said Boag. Boag added that the company would have a âlicence to occupyâ not a lease so the district would maintain full control of the land the operation was situated on.
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Emma Roberts-Ruttan, 3, examines the various strange and exciting soaps of Samanthaâs Silly Soaps at the Haney Farmers Market last Saturday. The market will officially open on May 8. See story on Page 5. WildPlay has told the district it would offer free tickets to parks and leisure services that could be distributed. Councillor Craig Speirs said heâs âcompletely intriguedâ by the idea and it would take an âunderproductive asset,â the campground, and bring in a profit for the district. He said the proposal is a way of creating economic development by maximizing the beauty of the municipality and he said he hopes it would attract other similar businesses. Speirs said thereâs a growing demand for family recreational activities where families can play together. Councillor Linda King questioned whether thereâs been adequate consultation with the community. Boag said thereâs been three open houses and the district sent out e-mails and called people to let them know about the open houses, as well as advertising them in local newspapers.
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King also said the business opening up would mean âweâre going to be inundated with people.â She said the district will have to be prepared and canât allow people to park anywhere and everywhere or âitâll just be a nightmare.â King said there could also be an impact on the river. She added she likes the way Maple Ridge Park is right now and is leery about its character changing. However, she added she understands the need to entice young people and keep people physically active. âWe donât want to damage where itâs going to be located because itâs a very beautiful place right now,â she said. Boag said the company is proposing to expand an existing parking lot and is hoping to negotiate with the Eagles Hall to use some of their parking for overflow parking. People would be expected to book in advance to use the aerial adventure courses so they wouldnât just drop in. There would also be a maximum capacity for the num-
ber of people who could be on the course at one time. He said that would limit the number of people trying to park there at the same time. Boag said a parking study has found the âworst case scenarioâ would be 50 cars at one time and the expanded parking lot would be able to handle more than 60 cars. Mike Murray, general manager of community development and parks and recreation, said camping at Maple Ridge Park has been âproblematic,â and added that allowing a campground near a residential area isnât ideal. He said the environmental impacts on the site would likely be lower once the campground is gone. Councillor Cheryl Ashlie called it a âhuge, huge opportunity to sell the rest of Maple Ridge.â She said once people are here the district could promote other aspects of the municipality. She said the business would also provide work for youth who need summer jobs and have problems
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finding them in the community. If the proposal goes ahead there would be a caretaker on site for after hours security and site maintenance. The business would include a kidsâ course for children from seven to 13 and an adult course. Activities would include zip lines, suspended bridges, tightropes, rope swings, hanging nets, swinging logs, aerial wall climbing and ladders. As part of the design project WildPlay will do a feasibility study including an arborist to ensure trees arenât damaged. If council approves the project WildPlay would pay the district a base rent of $32,000 for the first year, paid only for the months the park is operating. In years two to five the district would receive $32,000 a year or four per cent of gross revenue, whatever is higher. In years six to ten the district would be paid $36,000 a year or five per cent of gross revenue, whatever is higher.