Stanley Park tree removal project accelerated by park board [Video]

The Vancouver Park Board is speeding up its tree removal project to mitigate risks to public safety, after a particularly tempestuous autumn further damaged dead and dying trees in Stanley Park.

At a meeting Monday evening, the park board approved a plan to quickly remove hazardous trees in high priority areas, including sections along Stanley Park Drive, North Lagoon Drive, and the remaining areas along the seawall from Siwash Rock to Second Beach.

Initially scheduled for treatment in the fall of next year as part of the project’s third and final phase, the areas are now planned to be completed before the bird nesting season in March.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of all park visitors while minimizing disruptions,” said the park board’s chair Brennan Bastyovanszky in a release issued Tuesday.

“We greatly appreciate the public’s patience as we continue to manage this complex situation and work towards …