Âé¶čAV city council is being asked to endorse a long-term plan to transform the Lower Mill Creek corridor into a connected, accessible, and environmentally resilient linear park.
The proposed Lower Mill Creek Linear Park Strategic Plan, going to council on July 7, outlines how the city will upgrade the trail system, restore natural habitats, and improve access to one of Âé¶čAVâs key waterways. The plan, developed by the Parks Planning and Design Department, would guide development along the creek for the next two decades.
Mill Creek runs through some of Âé¶čAVâs busiest neighbourhoods. In recent years, the area has changed significantly, with new flood protection projects and more apartment-style housing replacing single-family homes. The new plan aims to respond to these changes by improving both the natural environment and public access to the creek.
The initiative includes safer, easier-to-use trails, more places for people to enter the park, and better crossings over the creek. New features like benches, public art, and signs will make the area more welcoming. In quieter residential areas like Marshall Street and Brookside Avenue, the city is also proposing âshared streets,â where cars and pedestrians share the road more safely through slower traffic and wider walking spaces.
Planting along the corridor will vary by location. Near the creek, native plants will support the ecosystem. Where the park meets roads or buildings, rain gardens and swalesâshallow, landscaped channels that help soak up rainwaterâwill manage runoff and ease the transition from urban to natural space. In other areas, drought-tolerant plants will be used to reduce maintenance and water use.
The trail network will mostly stick to existing public land to keep costs down and avoid the need for new bridge construction.
Work will roll out in phases, with priorities set over short, medium, and long-term timelines. The corridor has been divided into 25 sections, each with cost estimates to help the city budget and plan improvements through its 10-year capital plan.
