One of Whistler's favourite parks will soon receive a major facelift as part of a rejuvenation project set to begin later this spring.
Rainbow Park, located on the west side of Alta Lake, will receive a series of significant upgrades as part of the Province of British Columbia's Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) program, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) announced Thursday. The improvements are aimed at increasing accessibility in the local park.
RMI funds will cover the entire cost of the upgrades, which are scheduled to be completed in two phases in 2022 and 2023.
Phase one will see the addition of a new Valley Trail connection to Alta Lake Road, landscape improvements in the park as well as an expansion and reconfiguring of the parking area to better accommodate shuttle buses, accessibility, commercial deliveries, and unloading.
These improvements will help provide sustainable transportation access by creating a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists, while helping reduce the park's current irrigation demands, the RMOW explained in a release.
Both the washrooms and the waterfront park area of Rainbow park will remain open during phase one of the refurbishment. However, the public is encouraged to access Rainbow Park via the Valley Trail network rather than by car, as parking availability in the area will be reduced during construction.
The project's second phase is expected to begin in the autumn of 2022 and will take place between the CN railway crossing and the lake. More information on phase two of this project will be made available over the summer.
For more information on the park refurbishment project, visit the RMOW's website.
