For just a loonie, Metro Vancouver Regional District is renewing its lease on the 360-acre Burnaby Lake Regional Park from the City of Burnaby for the next 25 years.
The lease is much like the old one, which was signed in 1978.
Metro Vancouver will fund the day-to-day maintenance, natural resource protection, regulation and enforcement and capital improvements, as it has for almost 50 years, according to a press release Feb. 5.
The city owns the lands covered by the lease, but as part of the renewed lease, Metro Vancouver will also explore opportunities to acquire adjacent lands owned by bodies such as BC Hydro and the federal government, Cole Wagner, public affairs officer, told the Burnaby NOW.
One of the updates will include requiring Metro Vancouver to develop a park management plan (a "roadmap for the park's future") within five years.
There's also an option to extend the lease for a further 25 years, Wagner said.
"Finally, the lease outlines that the city will co-manage the Burnaby Lake water lot equally with Metro Vancouver. Both parties will jointly apply to renew the water lot license and share the costs of lake management activities," Wagner said.
Mayor Mike Hurley praised the new deal.
"Burnaby Lake Regional Park is one of the most important ecological and recreational destinations in all of Metro Vancouver," Hurley said in the release.
"We’re pleased to reaffirm our commitment to working with Metro Vancouver to protect and enhance this area for future generations to enjoy."
John McEwen, chair of Metro Vancouver’s regional parks committee and vice-chair of the board, said Metro Vancouver is thrilled to continue caring for Burnaby Lake Park.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the city to protect and manage this area and connect the region’s residents with nature."
