7 Future Inline Skating Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia:

BY Lorne Milne (LM Bladeskool, www.inlineskatingvancouver.com; LMBladeskool@shaw.ca; 604-708-1055)

    Eager to expand your rolls to new sites?  Here’s a list below of plans & proposals for upcoming new blading sites.  If you can contribute to letter writing to your local politicians to see these sites developed (earlier than later) please do.  Inline Skaters are notoriously busy being active & traditionally have poor turn-out at open-houses on new developments (where new facilities like inline skate paths are discussed).  If you know of any new pathways on the horizon please let us know:

1.)    Carrall Street Pathway (from North-East False Creek Seawall path along Carall St., through China Town & Gastown):  In the 90’s Lorne Milne proposed this pathway (& it was later successfully championed by ex-city Councillor Sandy McCormick) that has major significance towards completing the full loop of the Vancouver Peninsula.  When a full loop is accomplished Vancouver will be the first city in the world to have a inline skating pathway surrounding the downtown core!.  The city is planning to develop this pathway in 2007!;

2.)    South-East False Creek Seawall Pathway (from Science World Seawall path to Cambie Bridge & South False Creek Path).  This pathway is scheduled for completion in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics:

3.)    Finning Land Pathway (from Science World along East 1^st Ave to Great Northern Way to VCC & the Gen St. Sky-Train station):  Lorne Milne proposed this important pathway (linking the east Mt.Pleasant  residential area to the False Creek Pathway & the Central Valley Greenway).  Although slated for 2006 the University development on the Finning Lands & the pathway is behind schedule so let’s cross our fingers that we’ll see completion in 2007 http://www.vancourier.com/issues01/0520/news/0520IN&.html ;

4.)    National St. Pathway (from Science World seawall path Seawall to Thornton Park Pathway in front of Railway/Bus Station along National to Malkin & Strathcona Park);  When this area was slated for development as a Hi-Tech industrial park the plan was to incorporate this inline skating pathway.  As the land has now been purchased by the owners of St. Paul’s hospital the plan is up in the air while we await the new development plans.  Here’s a situation to stay abreast of (please attend any future open houses & write in your support for pathway development);

5.)    Strathcona Park Inline Skating Racing Oval (on South side of park adjoining Malkin, surrounding soccer field);  Lorne Milne proposed conversion of this eroded oval path (a heritage site for oval car racing earlier in the century) to a facility for Inline Skate Racing.  The Torrents Inline Racing Club http://www.vancouverskate.com has continued to champion this development.  Write in your support to your local Parks Board politicians.

6.)    Central Valley Greenway Extension:   The Finning Land Pathway, the Grandview Cut pathway are part of the eventual plan to continue a path from Vancouver through Burnaby to New West.  Presently there is a need to re-build & the 7-11 trail from Clark to Victoria drive (at the Grandview Cut Pathway); to build an underpass pathway at Clark to VCC; & to continue the Pathway from the Grandview Cut (behind Van Tech High School) past Rona hardware to the Buraby Pathway at Boundary.   Better Enviromentally Sound Transportation (BEST) has been a major champion of this effort.  Give them your support. http://www.best.bc.ca ;

7.)    Kits Point Pathway:  (connecting South False Creek Pathway at the Burrard St. Bridge to Kits Point & Kits Beach pathway):  In the 90’s Lorne Milne proposed creation of a paved pathway (inset from the extremely popular walking/jogging/cycling pathway beside the Planetarium at the waters’ edge (using Molson Brewery’s funding for the Indy Race Track rental contribution).  Unfortunately at that time the City & Parks Board stated that they did not have enough funds to do a full project.  This proposal is due to be revived.  Please write to your local politicians;