FAQs
Is the District going to sell the property?
No. The District does not plan to sell the property. The District plans to improve the park.
Why is the District not building a large arts facility at Klee Wyck Park?
The Klee Wyck site was included in the needs assessment during the development of the 2019 Arts & Culture Facilities Plan. The site was considered and rejected as a site for a consolidated arts facility because it is in a remote, quiet residential neighbourhood, and has poor access for high volume visitation.
Additionally, both the Economic Development Plan and the Official Community Plan recommend situating an arts centre in the Ambleside-Dundarave business district to serve as a driver for revitalization and potentially link the business districts to the waterfront. The Klee Wyck site will never be able to integrate with a business district.
After the Arts Facilities Advisory Committee determined that Klee Wyck would not be a viable site for a consolidated arts and culture centre, they formed a sub-committee to develop a long-term and short-term plan for Klee Wyck, which Council adopted on December 7, 2020.
Why is there no funding in place for future park improvements at Klee Wyck Park?
Funding for capital projects is applied for annually through the budget process, and a prerequisite for a funding request is a project cost estimate. This phase of the project planning will help determine which potential improvements the community would like to see happen at Klee Wyck Park. Once a plan for improvements has been determined, cost estimates will be prepared and budget requests submitted, in a phased basis.
On December 7, 2020, Council approved $170,000 to demolish four greenhouses, relocate two greenhouses, site mobilization, and general cleanup. There is no budget in place for additional improvements.
Since Dr. Ethlyn Trapp donated the land to the District in 1960, will her family members have input on the future improvements at Klee Wyck Park?
The family of Dr. Ethlyn Trapp are invited to share their feedback on potential park improvements at Klee Wyck Park. Their feedback will be considered alongside all public feedback received in this first phase of public consultation to identify priorities and needs.
Has the family of Dr. Ethlyn Trapp been consulted?
Yes. A member of the family was invited to attend all meetings of the Klee Wyck Subcommittee. That family member attended the meetings and provided comments along the way. They also attended some of the Arts Facilities Advisory Committee meetings to get clarity on the committee’s process. Members of Council (Mayor Booth) and District senior staff (CAO, Director of Parks, Culture & Community Services, Senior Manager of Cultural Services) also had several telephone and in-person meetings with them.
Is the property going to be developed with housing?
No. The property is a park, and the District plans to improve the park for recreational use.
Did the District break the terms of the agreement by demolishing the house?
No, the District has used the property per the agreement with Dr. Trapp and plans to invest in improvements to continue to act per that agreement.
Why did the District allow the house to deteriorate to the point that it had to be demolished?
Before 2015, Councils of the day allocated funding to the best of their ability on a priority basis. In 2015, the District set up a systematic program for asset management. At the time, analysis of the assets and their condition identified a significant shortfall in what the District had been investing in asset maintenance over the years, resulting in many assets being in poor condition. The house at Klee Wyck falls into this category. When considering priorities for funding, staff and Council work through the annual budget process, taking into account factors such as the current level of use of a facility, the anticipated future use; the current condition; the amount of investment required; other District capital and operating needs; etc.
What is Council's plan for the property?
Council continues to invest in the Asset Management Fund for future generations and plans to invest in Klee Wyck Park improvements.
Which aspects of Klee Wyck Park have heritage significance and what does this heritage value mean for future improvements and changes?
In 2008, the property was listed on the District’s Community Heritage Register, a list of properties and resources recognized as having heritage value.
The heritage significance of the property is more than just the craftsman-style house. The house's association with Dr. Ethlyn Trapp, the rustic estate setting, the mature landscape, proximity to Capilano River, and the landscape design that includes introduced plant specimens all factor into the property’s heritage significance.
In 2020, Council made the decision to demolish the house as it was not salvageable, but the grounds and gardens are historically significant.
The District is currently undertaking a heritage review of the Gate House to ascertain its heritage significance.
What will happen to the trail connection from Klee Wyck Park? Will Klee Wyck Park’s connection to the Capilano Pacific Trail be repaired?
The District plans to review the existing trail network to determine connections for Klee Wyck. One of the primary trail connections, the Capilano Pacific Trail, is currently closed due to a landslide that happened in January 2021. Once the Capilano Pacific Trail repairs are complete, staff will review options for connecting Klee Wyck Park to the Capilano Pacific Trail.
Are there plans to improve transit to and from Klee Wyck Park?
Currently, public transit is available every hour. If transit use on this route increases significantly, the District will advocate with TransLink to increase service.