Vancouver Park Board commissioners have unanimously voted to approve a year-round tree canopy walk and a summertime zipline installation at Queen Elizabeth Park.

One of Vancouver’s most beloved parks, Queen Elizabeth is the city’s highest point and features the domed Bloedel Conservatory, numerous gardens and a pitch-and-putt course — along with panoramic views of the city’s downtown skyline and the North Shore mountains.

The park could look different this summer, after a “nature-based attraction” program was approved to allow for a tree canopy walk similar to that seen at Capilano Bridge Park in North Vancouver and at the University of B.C.’s botanical garden.

There will also be a 120-metre-long zipline that will be located north of the Bloedel Conservatory, and operate for two or three months of the summer, according to park board staff. A temporary zipline was previously erected in the park in the summer of 2015.

While numerous residents spoke out against the proposal, arguing it came without consultation and could impact migratory birds and park trees, park board commissioners ultimately said the attractions would help balance the board’s needs for revenue generation and conservation.

“Although I realize there is some stress on the environment, I think it’s a good balance, and the educational opportunity is by far what’s going to win the day for me here,” said Green Party commissioner Tom Digby at a Monday park board meeting.

Park board staff say the platforms to be used for the tree canopy walk will be suspended without the use of nails and bolts, and the canopy can be adjusted to allow for the trees’ growth.

“Canopy walks and ziplines are family-friendly and provide educational and immersive natural experiences combined with a feeling of adventure,” staff wrote in their report.

Visitors to the approximately 300-metre-long canopy walk can explore on their own, or with a guided tour developed by the Vancouver Botanical Garden Association, according to staff.

Staff say visitors to the zipline will be given education about birds and flight.

The staff report says the park board aims to promote environmental stewardship through the two attractions, with the operator — Greenheart — required to remove invasive species and monitor the trees’ health in the long term.

All expenses related to setting up and running the attractions will be carried by Greenheart, according to city staff, including an initial $2.5-million capital investment and any potential site restoration.

The tree walk will cost an estimated $20 per person and the zipline an estimated $16 per person.

With the attractions now approved, park board staff will move ahead with negotiating five-year-long contracts with Greenheart and its partners.

Some residents critical

For some Vancouverites who live around Queen Elizabeth Park, Monday’s proposal came as a total surprise.

Blair Worrall, who says he visits the park four or five days a week, said it will become much harder to enjoy the park’s duck pond with friends, given the prospect of people screaming down a zipline overhead.

“It just left me with the the idea that more than anything, this is all about generating revenue, getting more tourists to the park to spend money,” he told CBC News.

“Zero consideration [is] being given to people like me, who live in the neighbourhood, who really, really rely on the park as just a place to gather, destress and enjoy nature.”

Commissioner Angela Haer, who is with the ABC slate, said it was unfortunate that some residents didn’t feel engaged as part of the process, and it would be something the park board would look into.

“This is a five-year program. If there is a push back, if the [birds’] migratory patterns have been disrupted, we’re going to take a look at this again and maybe revisit whether or not this is beneficial,” she said.