Vancouver unveils concept for False Creek, includes viaduct removal and 11-acre park

VANCOUVER – The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board are taking the last steps in public engagement to refine the area plan for Northeast False Creek, including a new 11-acre park and replacement of the viaducts with an at-grade street network.

"The early draft plan for Northeast False Creek is based on some of the most extensive public consultation that the city has ever done," says Gil Kelley, general manager of planning for the City of Vancouver, in a statement.

Northeast False Creek Park is envisaged as a waterfront destination. The plan includes the park descending to the water in intertidal inlets, where steps and ramps provide access to gravel beaches and intertidal habitat.

The design provides a connection between Northeast False Creek and Chinatown/Gastown via a proposed new Carrall Street promenade. A pedestrian bridge over the new Pacific Boulevard is envisioned to unify the north and south sections of the park.

Cyclists and pedestrians will flow in from downtown and East Vancouver via a proposed newly elevated Dunsmuir Park. There will also be a series of platforms that capitalize on vistas over False Creek.

Planning for the removal of the viaducts and the replacement street network have long been underway. In October 2015, council approved the recommendation for a new, seismically-resistant street network to replace the Dunsmuir and Georgia Viaducts.

"Over the next 20 years, we expect there will be up to 12,000 new residents and up to 8,000 people coming to work here, and this new street network will improve connectivity between neighbourhoods while maintaining the ability for arterial traffic to flow in and out of downtown," says Jerry Dobrovolny, general manager of engineering for the City of Vancouver.

Planning for the new hospital in False Creek Flats has also been a key consideration. The team is using innovative design practices to create a seismically resilient street network that will be a lifeline between downtown and the new hospital in case of a major event.

After this round of consultation on the draft plan, the city will integrate comments, and come out to the public again in the fall to present the refined draft plan. The final area plan will be presented to council at the end of this year.

Implementation will take place with partnerships with senior levels of government and area landowners, including the removal of the viaducts and the build out of the neighbourhood. Implementation is expected to take place over a 20-year timeframe and will be dependent on area landowners, and the city obtaining the necessary agreements.