Kanaka Creek Regional Park

Kanaka Creek Regional Park
Map
TypeRegional Park
LocationMaple Ridge
Nearest cityMaple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates49°12′38″N 122°31′29″W / 49.2106°N 122.5247°W / 49.2106; -122.5247
Area400 hectares (990 acres)
EstablishedPlants and Wildlife
Operated byMetro Vancouver Regional District
Websitemetrovancouver.org/services/regional-parks/park/kanaka-creek-regional-park

Kanaka Creek Regional Park is a regional park of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, located in the city of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, flanking both sides of Kanaka Creek from its confluence with the Fraser River just east of Haney and extending approximately 11 km (7 mi) up the creek to just south of the community of Webster's Corners. The Maple Ridge Fairgrounds are just east of the lower regions of the park, beyond them is the community of Albion. Derby Reach Regional Park is just across the Fraser in Langley.

A variety of plants and animals can be located in all 3 areas of the park and it is a popular spot for both Black Bear and Salmon populations.[1] Kanaka Creek Regional Park has a rich history- the first purchase of land for the park by the City of Maple Ridge occurred in the late 1970s,[2][3] and the land is the traditional unceded territory of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui, Musqueam, Semiahmoo, and Tseil-Waututh peoples.[1] Recently, misuse of the land has negatively changed parts of the park.[1] To fix this issue, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks implemented a 20 year management plan in 2004 with the assistance of the Katzie First Nation among other groups,[4] and the University of Victoria (UVIC) completed a restoration project in areas of the park in 2022.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Pocock, Alison (March 2022). "Forest Restoration in Kanaka Creek Regional Park". Ecorestoration: RNS Technical Series (1): 2, 6–9, 14 – via OJS/PKP.
  2. ^ "Kanaka History". KEEPS. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  3. ^ "Kanaka Creek Park – Maple Ridge Museum". Maple Ridge Museum. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  4. ^ Greater Vancouver Regional District (July 2004). "Kanaka Creek Regional Park Management Plan" (PDF). Kanaka Creek Regional Park Management Plan.