Protesters gather to save trees slated for removal in Delta Park

As workers arrived Monday morning with metal fencing to section off portions of Winskill Park in Tsawwassen, a group of protesters gathered in a wooded corner of the park where the city of Delta plans to cut down a tree.

“You know, people walk their dogs here. It’s one of the first frisbee golf places. The eagles, the owls. Somebody saw a deer here last week,” said Seth Phillips, one of the protesters.

The city of Delta said it needs to cut down the trees to make way for the amenities the community’s growing population needs. It said it had held extensive public consultations on the plan, including six open houses.

“Public input seems to have been ignored. I went to the first public input session and people there were very strongly opposed,” said Norman Taylor, who also attended the protest.

The park’s $120 million redevelopment includes a new aquatics center to replace the nearly 50-year-old facility that currently exists.

Plans also call for the addition of a fourth baseball diamond along with 350 new parking spaces.

According to the mayor’s office, the parking lot will occupy the footprint of the existing aquatic center so that part of the plan will not affect any trees.

City Manager Donny van Dyk told CTV News that a report by an independent arborist found that only six of the trees slated for removal are considered healthy.

“We have a detailed reforestation plan that we will engage with the public to ensure that trees are replaced at least on a two-for-one basis going forward,” van Dyk said.

He said care would be taken to examine the trees for occupied nests before cutting them down.

Despite the city’s promises, protesters remain undeterred and say they plan to do everything they can to protect the grove.

“I think we just have to come together. We have to make a statement,” Phillips said. “I don’t know how far everyone here is willing to go to protect this forest. But I think it is our duty”.

Delta police attended Monday’s protest but said it was peaceful and legal, with no arrests made.

Construction for the park redevelopment is scheduled to begin soon.

Barring any significant changes, the new facilities are expected to be complete and operational sometime in 2027.