The City of White Rock’s Ruth Johnson Park experienced significant damage to its slopes, walkways and trees following extreme rainfall in late January, resulting in an estimated $4.2 million in repair work and triggering a request for help from the Province.
The City also closed Coldicutt Ravine on Jan. 31 after record rainfall damaged the ravine and the lower portion of Ruth Johnson Park. Coldicutt Ravine is closed indefinitely. Two areas of the park remain closed.
The City hired GeoWest Engineering Ltd. of Abbotsford to assess the ravine and park damage. GeoWest reports multiple slope failures, sunken stairs and walkways and erosion in both locations. Conditions on the east ravine are considered treacherous.
Repairs are already underway in Ruth Johnson Park and further detailed assessment is being carried out in Coldicutt Ravine.
City Council heard on Feb. 18 that the cost estimate is $4 million for the east side of Ruth Johnson Park and $200,000 for the west. The City has applied to the B.C. Disaster Financial Assistance program and will likely apply for DFA assistance for Coldicutt Ravine following completion of the detailed assessment.
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White Rock Mayor Darryl Walker
“The City of White Rock has taken immediate steps to assess damage in Ruth Johnson Park, to keep our residents and visitors safe by closing areas of the park and to move directly to getting things repaired.
Ruth Johnson is a local treasure. We’d like to return it to a safe state so people can enjoy the park and sights on the trails.”