Hikers, dog walkers and mountain bikers are being told to stay off some of their favourite Seymour area trails by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
After decades of allowing largely unfettered access, CMHC staff posted signs at the trailheads around the former Blair Rifle Range last week, warning: “unauthorized access for recreational or any other activities is strictly prohibited.”
“People are unhappy but that’s the current situation – a general anxiety over losing a trail network,” said Rachid Nayel, vice-president of the North Shore Mountain Biking Association. “From the volume of emails that we’ve received, I would imagine they’re fairly popular.”
The NSMBA and District of North Vancouver Coun. Mathew Bond, who is also past president of the association, have been lobbying CMHC for some form of consultation that might allow use of the trails again – or at the very least an explanation as to why they’re suddenly closed.
In response to a request for an interview, North Shore News received a statement from CMHC.
“As part of the continued management of the property, existing signage was reviewed and it was determined that they required updating. As such, approximately 25 signs were posted throughout the property,” it read. “While there are no immediate plans for the property, CMHC is reviewing all options for future use of the site. We are currently working with stakeholders, including neighbouring parks to develop a co-ordinated approach to managing and monitoring the use of Blair Rifle Range.”
In the meantime, the NSMBA is urging its members to not ride or build trails on the land.
“We’re advising people to respect the signage,” Nayel said, although he added it will be up to individuals to comply.
Neighbours around Seymour Heights and Windsor Park are also not pleased, said nearby resident Kevin Grayston.
“I just think that overall the North Shore trails and mountains are a great resource and we want to encourage people to be out there and getting fit and taking advantage of the great outdoors. This puts a bit of a crimp in it,” he said.
Being welcomed back onto the trails would be the best case scenario, Grayston said… “but I think people just want to understand why the change after all this time.”
CMHC is planning to release an updated statement on the Blair Range controversy on Thursday afternoon.
Blair Rifle Range is approximately 644 acres of vacant land in North Vancouver and has been jointly owned by CMHC and B.C. since 1968. BC Assessment values the land at $57,021,000.
