Burnaby council approved paving a 1.3-kilometre section of trail in Burnaby Lake Park, which has caused concern among a group of horseback riders who believe it will end horseback riding in the park. The Burnaby Horsemen’s Association, which has stables at the edge of the park, wants the paving to be stopped as they believe it is not a safe surface for horses and will remove half of the horseback riding trails in the park.
The equestrian non-profit, with 258 members in 2024, feels that the city has left its members out of the public consultation process regarding the paving of the gravel multi-use path in Burnaby Lake Regional Park. The estimated cost for the paving project is a little less than $1.5 million for a section of about 1.35 kilometres of BC Hydro access gravel road. Coun. Sav Dhaliwal referred the delegation’s presentation to staff for further discussion and engagement to address the concerns raised by the horseback riders.
Coun. Alison Gu was the sole opponent of the project in December, expressing concerns about how the paving aligns with transportation goals and the need to focus on separating cyclists from vehicular traffic for safety. However, Coun. Pietro Calendino argued that the route is part of the region’s cycling network and the city has made a commitment to Metro Vancouver to finish the project. The city is considering paving more sections of the trail, with staff working on a comprehensive master plan for Burnaby Lake to establish goals and objectives for the park.
