Crews have repaired the damaged slopes along a section of Vancouver's seawall that forced a three-week closure.
Vancouver's Board of Parks and Recreation formally reopened the seawall between Third Beach and Prospect Point on Friday, Feb. 28 — close to Siwash Rock — after completing design and repair work.
Harsh weather conditions and fluctuating temperatures last month led to unstable conditions and large chunks of sandstone to fall to the ground.
"During the recent sub-zero temperatures, water that got in behind the joints of the rocks froze, then expanded," explained Andrew Seeton, senior engineer with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, in an earlier statement to V.I.A.
"The subsequent increased temperatures meant that the ice melted, further loosening the rocks and leading to some slope instability in this area."
To mitigate the stability issues, anchors were installed and portions of "uncompromised rock slab" were removed by specialized rock-scaling contractors.
The seawall first closed on Feb. 7, prompted by ice build-up along overhanging slopes.
Visitors to Stanley Park were temporarily detoured through the forest along Avison Trail, Prospect Point Trail, Bridle Path, and Rawlings Trail.
Seeton said park crews actively monitor Vancouver's forecast to determine if public safety is at risk and if a closure is necessary.
"Thank you for your patience as we carried out this important work to keep Stanley Park’s visitors safe," the Park Board said on social media.
📣 Design and repair work on the seawall slopes between Third Beach & Prospect Point has been completed and this section is now open.
— Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) February 28, 2025
Thank you for your patience as we carried out this important work to keep Stanley Park’s visitors safe. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/sLwm8RCFAV
