The Links

Currently, the Green Links project is working on enhancing the ecological value of four linkages, two of which are located along BC Gas/ BC Hydro utility corridors in Coquitlam and Surrey-Delta. The third, in Burnaby, is located along an existing urban trail system. The fourth involves providing habitat in residences backyards and balconies. The primary enhancement activity involves (re)establishing native plant communities in disturbed habitats along the Links. Native vegetation supports resident species of wildlife, and thus increases the wildlife value and diversity of the corridors.

 

Coquitlam Link

The Coquitlam Link is based upon the BC Gas/ BC Hydro utility corridor running north-south from the BC Hydro relay station in the Port Moody Ecological Reserve, through Coquitlam's city center and south to the Coquitlam and Fraser Rivers.

 

• Site 1 is at a BC Hydro sub-station. It links the Port Moody Ecological Reserve which adjoins several parks and preserves up the coastal mountains, to Brambles Park, a local park for the community.
• Site 3 has had two plantings of native vegetation to diversify the vegetation and encourage more wildlife into the area. It is located next to a church.
• Site 5 is located next to Eagle Ridge Elementary School. It has many trails and is heavily used by the local community.
• Site 7 already has a high biodiversity because of the tall variety of shrubs growing in the area. Coquitlam city center is located to the east of this site.
• Site 9 has had a number of plantings, such as an ethnobotany garden and a variety of native vegetation species. It is also linked to Mundy Park on the north side.
• Site 11 is bisected by Hickey Drive and there have been plantings on both sides, which are growing well. This site is located next to Riverview Hospital lands on the east.
• Site 13 is located next to a children's playground in the north and Lougheed Highway in the south. There are numerous blackberry and salmonberry bushes here. To the east of this site is Colony Farm, which is located along the Fraser and Coquitlam Rivers and ends the Coquitlam Link.

 

Burnaby Link

The Burnaby Link is located along an urban trail network. It begins at Byrne Creek Ravine Park and continues along 16th Avenue. The area is dominated by residential housing. Some of the community has attended workshops about backyard enhancement programs and they have done plantings in their yards to help link the green spaces together. Second Street Community School has also had workshops and plantings on the school grounds to teach the children about wildlife habitat. We have also just recently completed a mural for their garden. Robert Burnaby Park currently ends the Burnaby Link.

 

 

Delta/Surrey Link

The Delta/Surrey Link is also based upon the BC Gas / BC Hydro utility corridor and it is the longest link of the three. The link runs through Tynehead Regional Park and Green Timbers, continues west through North Surrey and into North Delta and ends along the northern edge of Burns Bog. Tynehead Regional Park is the beginning of the Delta/Surrey Link. Most of the sites connecting the parks fall under the Hydro corridor, so they are highly exposed to the sun, grassy and mowed regularly. The following sites that are listed are the sites, which have had some kind of enhancement work.

• Sites 11, 12, 15, and 18 are all along a multi-use pathway built by the City of Surrey. These sites are generally located around the water retention ponds, so the soil is moist and the bottoms of the ponds are good for wetland vegetation types. These sites link Tynehead Regional Park with Green Timbers.
• Site 37 is a wetland area with a stream nearby.
• Site 56 there has been riparian habitat enhancement and stream bank stabilization along the stream on this site. These last two sites connect Green Timbers with Burns Bog, which is the end of the Delta/ Surrey Link.