HIGH-FLYING FUN ON DECK
Park board considers zip line over Queen Elizabeth Park.
There’s going to be a lot of screaming in Metro Vancouver this summer.
On May 16, Playland will unveil a new “pendulum” ride called The Beast where people get twirled around at 90 kilometres an hour, 12 storeys in the sky.
On Aug. 22 in North Vancouver, kids will be able to celebrate Car Free Day by taking their inner tube to Slide The City, a 304-metre water slide that will cascade down Lonsdale Avenue.
And on April 27, the Vancouver park board is to consider allowing a zip line over the quarry garden at Queen Elizabeth Park.
Under the proposal, up to 60 people an hour could be soaring over one of Vancouver’s loveliest, most tranquil spaces.
“The ride distance is approximately 500 feet (150 metres), and you’re travelling under 20 miles per hour (30 km/h),” explains Ian Green of Greenheart International, which proposed the zip line.
“At the top you’ve got views to the northeast of the city, and also views to the northwest. Then you’ll fly off across the quarry, so you’ll get a pretty unique experience.”
Park board chair John Coupar likes the proposal.
“Personally I think it’s a fun idea, and will create some
“The ride distance is approximately 500 feet and you’re travelling under 20 miles per hour. At the top you’ve got views to the north-east of the city, and also views to the north-west. Then you’ll fly off across the quarry, so you’ll get a pretty unique experience.
IAN GREEN GREENHEART INTERNATIONAL
excitement up there,” said Coupar. “It’s the highest point in Vancouver, and I think people are going to enjoy it and have fun with it. It will have very minimal impact on the park itself, it’s a temporary install.”
Queen Elizabeth Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and Coupar said park board staff was looking at ways to “animate” the park for the celebration.
If it’s approved, the zip line could be operating from May to September.
Greenheart will be financing the zip line itself, and charging $15 to $20 a rider. The park board will get a cut of the revenue when the gross hits $75,000. If the gross reaches $400,000, the park board will start getting 40 per cent of the revenue.
Park commissioner Stuart Mackinnon of the Green party was surprised by the proposal.
“I certainly have some concerns,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the staff report to be able to ask some questions about it.
“Queen Elizabeth is a special place in Vancouver for many people. It’s not generally considered an amusement park, and I think putting a zip line in may change the tone of the park.”
But Greenheart’s Geoff Bell said it would have minimal impact on the park.
“This isn’t designed to be a thrill ride or anything like that, this is soaring over one of the most beautiful parks and areas (in Vancouver) with no impact,” he said. “No motors running, no gasoline, no combustion.”
Coupar said if the zip line proves popular, it might be retained at the park.
“We’ll take a look at what the reaction is, if it’s approved,” said Coupar. “And if the reaction is positive it’s possible it will continue.”