Project Information

Queen Elizabeth Park -
Viewing Tower Proposal

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The Park Board has received a proposal for a privately developed and operated viewing tower adjacent to the Bloedel Floral Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park. The Board has requested that community consultation regarding this proposal be undertaken through a public review process.

Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in the city at 153 metres (501 feet) above sea level. Previously, the viewpoint offered unobstructed, 360 degree views. Many of these have now become obscured by the park's maturing arboretum.

In a survey done for the 1999 report Long Range Vision for Queen Elizabeth Park, views from Queen Elizabeth Park were reported as one of the most important reasons for both tourists and residents to visit the park. 76% of the 284 residents surveyed were in favour of preserving major views by pruning, topping or removal of trees. Public meeting participants were also in favour of view management. However, there were also a number of people who held the strong view that no trees should be pruned or removed.

A proposal for an observation tower has been put forward by Henriquez Partners, on behalf of Observation Tower Inc. In the proposed design, the three viewing decks (47, 52.5 and 56 metres from the ground) would be accessed by elevator. From these, people would have unobstructed views in all directions.

The proposed design also includes gift shop and snack bar areas at the ground level.

In Fall 2007, two public workshops will be held and the community will be invited to review the Observations Tower Inc. proposal and to comment on the concept of a privately developed and operated viewing tower in Queen Elizabeth Park Feedback from these workshops, and other community input will be forwarded to the Park Board for their consideration.

Should the Board decide to pursue the concept of a privately developed and operated viewing tower, a request for proposals will be issued, and additional designs may be proposed and considered.

You can provide your comments on this concept:

• at the public workshops on September 8 and 25, 2007
• by email to:  pbcomment
• by mail to:  2099 Beach Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6G 1Z4
• or on the Park Board comment line at 604-257-6911
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