New trail parking lot; bridge under consideration in Silver Valley

The Silver Valley trail network may be getting a facelift, following recent growth in the community and a round of public engagement.

Maple Ridge is looking to add a parking lot to the north end of 236 Street — the top entry point for trail users — and construct a multi-use bridge across the North Alouette River. 

Among the 461 people who completed a city survey, 62 per cent said it was either “important” or “very important” to develop a multi-use crossing of the North Alouette River at Shoesmith Trail. 

The survey featured responses from many locals, with more than 60 per cent saying they used the Silver Valley trails multiple times per week. 

“It’s quite a big canyon of a river system there, so options may be limited,” said Chad Neufeld, manager of parks, planning, and development for the city, at a Jan. 21 committee of the whole meeting. 

He noted that staff would be undergoing a feasibility study of the potential bridge project. 

The proposed trailhead parking lot and bridge plans will need to be prioritized in the city’s capital plan before completion. Both projects will also require additional rounds of public engagement. 

A future parking area at 236 Street would likely include washrooms and trail signage. 

Currently, 29 per cent of people access the Silver Valley trails through the north end of 236 Street, more than double the next closest entry point: the north end of 240 Street. (The entry point results were based on 384 respondents, as opposed to the 461 people who took the survey.) 

Lea O’Shea, a Silver Valley resident, supports the idea of building a multi-use bridge and parking area on 236 Street. Currently, O’Shea, 64, drives to 236 Street to access many of the Silver Valley trails on the opposite side of the North Alouette River. 

“I wouldn’t have to get in my car, use my car, drive to the other side, when I can simply walk down the path to the river and over the bridge,” O’Shea said. “Anything that makes access more easy for us, especially as we’re aging, is a good thing in my mind.”  

The network was originally developed for horse trails, and many equestrian riders — plus some hikers — cross the river on foot. 

But over the years, the Silver Valley trails have also become popular with walkers, hikers, and cyclists. And residents like O’Shea can’t safely cross the river. 

“We’ve seen people carefully walk across the rocks to go to the other side,” she said. “We can’t cross the river without getting wet.” 

The feedback comes as the city envisions the neighbourhood hosting thousands of new residents, which may bring additional new users to the trails. 

In 2012, the population of Silver Valley was around 4,000 people. Maple Ridge, a community that is expected to have nearly 150,000 residents by 2050, has previously estimated that Silver Valley could host up to 11,000 residents. 

At the Jan. 21 meeting, Neufeld also reported that connecting trails, creating loop-based routes, and other short-term improvements like increasing trail signage and garbage cans on paths would be implemented over the next five years. 

Aside from the North Alouette River crossing, most respondents wanted the Docksteader trail extended to Anderson Creek and the Green Pond Trail continued from Foreman Drive to the 134 Loop. 

Coun. Sunny Schiller asked whether the plan incorporated any off-leash trails for pets. 

Maple Ridge doesn’t specifically identify trails as off-leash right now, Neufeld said. However, the city is not opposed to gauging the public’s appetite for designating certain off-leash trails in the city. 

“There’s a lot of things we need to consider, especially interactions with wildlife, other people’s use of the trails,” Neufeld said. 

A recreational trail strategy is expected to be presented to council later in 2025. 

On Jan. 24, days after releasing the trail network public engagement results, the city also announced it’s developing a new park between 232A Street and Blaney Road. Development of the roughly one-acre park — adjacent to the Shoesmith Trail on the west side of the North Alouette River — will be determined by public engagement. 

O’Shea said she hopes the city considers the needs of seniors who may want a quiet space to observe nature and relax as opposed to navigating playground features. She also suggested the city could build small sections where people can play games like chess, an activity that is popular in many New York City parks.

“It would be nice to meet my neighbour for a cup of coffee, read a book, or if there was a pond to watch the birds,” she said. “There is nothing really that I can think of here for seniors.” 

Public engagement will be open online until Feb. 13. 

The city is also hosting an open house on Feb. 4 at Eagles Hall. A second round of engagement will take place in the summer and include a design concept.