North shore's Lower Lonsdale area is flat out fun

A montage of the 20.000 workers during WW2 who built 53%
of our wartime cargo ships

Making the north shore accessible is an up hill or, up mountain actually, battle. The steep inclines that start at sea level and rise to 1,231 metres at the tip of Grouse Mountain can be difficult to impossible for the mobility challenged. Some areas are very accessible and some are not.  AccesssEco Bc will visit several areas including the top of Grouse Mountain over time. On my last visit to North Vancouver I checked out the Lonsdale Quay (see post "Going north - shore that is, swimmin' pools, movie stars").  This visit is to the Waterfront Area to the east and west of the market.  As most of this area is at or near sea level, the flatter area is ideal for the mobility challenged. The Lower Lonsdale area on the whole offers great cross ways with auditory features, excellent curb cuts, and ramp access from the Esplanade to the Quay roof and on to the market and hotel.  My preferred method of travel to this central location on the north shore continues to be sea bus http://www.translink.ca/

Lots of places to sip a latte

On Saturdays there are a couple of farmers markets in the area

Rolling past the market I head east to the revamped and still to be completed historic shipyard district at the base of  Londsdale Ave. Although not yet finished, it is already one of my favorite spots in the lower mainland. This area is a showcase of the fascinating history surrounding what was North Vancouver's second largest industry: ship building. The Wallace ship yard was originally west of these grounds further up the Burrard Inlet. However, in 1906, soon after the City of North Vancouver acquired electricity, the shipyard moved to the foot of Lonsdale. You can take a riveting 45 minute tour of the area for free. The tour is wheelchair accessible and can accommodate groups. For information go to www.northvanmuseum.ca/program4.htm.

The grounds are very accessible

From the 700 ft Burrard dry dock pier looking toward North Van

Ship building continues today

I can't wait to see what the completed historic shipyard district will look like when it's completed.  Use the Pinnacle Hotel's accessible washrooms and elevators to Esplanade. I noticed the installation of a new and modern accessible elevator almost completed on east side park exit. Hopefully when it's finished the site will include cross ways, marked pedestrian paths, and way finding with even more tactile clues for the visually impaired.

The east exit elevator looks nearly complete

If you head to the west side of the market, you will come across Waterfront Park. This 2.5 hectare park is divided by railway track and thus has a south side on the water front and a north side entering off Esplanade. In the park you can choose to use the street or a pedestrian overpass to get to each section. The north side is more of a field used for many community events including Caribbean Days.

The south side is the seawall section and where you will find great vistas of Vancouver's city scape, accessible washrooms, the Mariners Memorial, the Trans Canada Trail Aboriginal theme pavilion, and BCIT's waterfront campus.

Park pier looking to Vancouver

Mariner's Memorial for those lost at sea

Trans Canada Trail Aboriginal theme pavilion

BCIT docks

The park has a children's play area which is not very accessible. It does have good cement paths in the south side as well as along the sea wall. The south side is where you will find accessible washrooms and lots of places to sit.

Just beyond the BCIT campus at the park's far west exit is the Spirit Trail. I was aware of this section of pathway on the south tip of the Squamish Nation Reserve, but I bumped into a friend on the trail who told me eventually the path will offer an uninterrupted route to Horseshoe Bay. He has also told me that he has tried most of the sections that are open and they are great for his wheelchair.

Thanks for the tip

The Spirit Trail entrance just beyond the BCIT campus

For more information on Waterfront Park , North Vancouver and the Spirit Trail go to http://www.cnv.org/