A new accessible trail will soon open to public at the Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver. The Birdsong Path can be accessed close to the parking lot, on the right hand side immediately after driving into the parking lot.
The length of the trail that has been resurfaced is currently 345 metres, but there are plans to expand the trail. There are two parking spots marked with the wheelchair symbols and the new trail can be enjoyed by people with mobility issues, said Alexandra Mancini, the President of the Lighthouse Park Preservation Society.
“This is one of the rare relatively flat trail sections in Lighthouse Park and it is the only flat section accessed from the parking lot,” she said.
Birdsong Path will offer a pleasant forest experiences for visitors, especially those who have mobility issues. One portion of the trail goes along the only wetland in Lighthouse Park, which hosts different types of plants from the dry areas of the park. The society plans to install a picnic table off the trail so people can enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds of the wonderful old-growth forest.
“That section has vegetation, birds, small animals, and insects similar to the other steeper sections of the park. This will provide exposure to the same Lighthouse Park forest experience for many people who cannot access the difficult trails in the rest of the park,” Alexandra said.
A bench will also be placed at the end of Birdsong Path on the side of the trail facing south over an opening in the forest canopy. “There are very few sunny spots in Lighthouse Park, so we are especially pleased to include this spot along Birdsong Path,” Alexandra said.
