Klee Wyck Park Improvements

Engagement Summary Report

The Community Engagement Committee received the following report summarizing the results of the community engagement on March 8, 2023. The report has been provided to Council for their information.

Engagement Summary Report (PDF)

Improving Klee Wyck Park for community use

The District is creating a plan to improve Klee Wyck Park for community use. From April 8 to May 2, 2022, we collected your input on potential improvements and to hear your ideas. The results of the community engagement will be presented to Council for further direction.

Location and history

Klee Wyck is a park located at 200 Keith Road, in the Cedardale neighbourhood. This 6.2-acre property was donated to the District in 1960 by Dr. Ethlyn Trapp, under an agreement that the District would use the property for recreation, nursery garden, playground, or other community use. Dr. Trapp lived on the property until her death in 1972. Dr. Trapp named the property “Klee Wyck” in honour of her friend, the renowned artist Emily Carr.

The property has heritage significance for both the extensive gardens and the house. The house was significant for its association with Dr. Ethlyn Trapp and Emily Carr. The property is significant for the rustic estate setting, the mature landscape, proximity to Capilano River, and the landscape design that includes many unusual introduced plant specimens.

Past park use

The District uses part of the park as a plant nursery for the Parks Department, and, from the 1980s to 2011, the house served as a satellite facility for arts and culture programming.

Until 2015, the District had no program to invest in the capital maintenance of its assets, and the house at Klee Wyck fell into disrepair. It was closed to the public in 2011.

Considered and rejected as a site for a consolidated arts facility

Klee Wyck Park was considered as a site for a consolidated arts facility. It was rejected because it is in a remote, quiet residential neighbourhood, and has poor access for high volume visitation. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions section to learn more.

What's happening now

In 2020, Council made the decision to demolish the house, remove the nursery structures, maintain the gardens, and enhance the park’s amenities for everyone to enjoy.

The purpose of this engagement is to present potential park improvements to the community and collect feedback on proposed improvements. The results of the community engagement will be presented to Council for further direction.

View a map of potential park improvements (PDF)



Council approved a series of next steps and improvements

On December 7, 2020, Council received a report including recommendations from staff and the Klee Wyck Subcommittee's recommendations to remove the four poor-condition greenhouses, the house, and studio, and improve the park.

Council approved a series of next steps and improvements to the site, including:

  • removing the main house and studio (completed in 2021)
  • exploring options for a potential community-use facility to support future programming aligned with the restoration of the site
  • removing four greenhouses currently on-site and relocating two greenhouses currently on the site (completed in 2021)
  • after the buildings are removed, landscaping the area to improve the site for park use (completed in February 2022)
  • installing interpretive signage to commemorate Dr. Ethlyn Trapp
  • creating pathways through the gardens featuring the historical plantings
  • review the trail network in the area and connections to Klee Wyck
  • consulting the community to determine the level of interest in community gardens



Thank you for sharing your input

The engagement period is now closed. The survey deadline was Monday, May 2, 2022, at 4 p.m.

Thank you to those who shared their feedback on which park improvements are important to the community. Your input will help inform future park planning at Klee Wyck Park.

Staff met with residents at Klee Wyck Park to share information and answer questions on Wednesday, April 13 and Saturday, April 23.

A virtual information meeting was held via Zoom on Thursday, April 21.

Watch a video of the presentation (YouTube)

Virtual information meeting Q&A (PDF)

Engagement Summary Report

The Community Engagement Committee received the following report summarizing the results of the community engagement on March 8, 2023. The report has been provided to Council for their information.

Engagement Summary Report (PDF)

Improving Klee Wyck Park for community use

The District is creating a plan to improve Klee Wyck Park for community use. From April 8 to May 2, 2022, we collected your input on potential improvements and to hear your ideas. The results of the community engagement will be presented to Council for further direction.

Location and history

Klee Wyck is a park located at 200 Keith Road, in the Cedardale neighbourhood. This 6.2-acre property was donated to the District in 1960 by Dr. Ethlyn Trapp, under an agreement that the District would use the property for recreation, nursery garden, playground, or other community use. Dr. Trapp lived on the property until her death in 1972. Dr. Trapp named the property “Klee Wyck” in honour of her friend, the renowned artist Emily Carr.

The property has heritage significance for both the extensive gardens and the house. The house was significant for its association with Dr. Ethlyn Trapp and Emily Carr. The property is significant for the rustic estate setting, the mature landscape, proximity to Capilano River, and the landscape design that includes many unusual introduced plant specimens.

Past park use

The District uses part of the park as a plant nursery for the Parks Department, and, from the 1980s to 2011, the house served as a satellite facility for arts and culture programming.

Until 2015, the District had no program to invest in the capital maintenance of its assets, and the house at Klee Wyck fell into disrepair. It was closed to the public in 2011.

Considered and rejected as a site for a consolidated arts facility

Klee Wyck Park was considered as a site for a consolidated arts facility. It was rejected because it is in a remote, quiet residential neighbourhood, and has poor access for high volume visitation. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions section to learn more.

What's happening now

In 2020, Council made the decision to demolish the house, remove the nursery structures, maintain the gardens, and enhance the park’s amenities for everyone to enjoy.

The purpose of this engagement is to present potential park improvements to the community and collect feedback on proposed improvements. The results of the community engagement will be presented to Council for further direction.

View a map of potential park improvements (PDF)



Council approved a series of next steps and improvements

On December 7, 2020, Council received a report including recommendations from staff and the Klee Wyck Subcommittee's recommendations to remove the four poor-condition greenhouses, the house, and studio, and improve the park.

Council approved a series of next steps and improvements to the site, including:

  • removing the main house and studio (completed in 2021)
  • exploring options for a potential community-use facility to support future programming aligned with the restoration of the site
  • removing four greenhouses currently on-site and relocating two greenhouses currently on the site (completed in 2021)
  • after the buildings are removed, landscaping the area to improve the site for park use (completed in February 2022)
  • installing interpretive signage to commemorate Dr. Ethlyn Trapp
  • creating pathways through the gardens featuring the historical plantings
  • review the trail network in the area and connections to Klee Wyck
  • consulting the community to determine the level of interest in community gardens



Thank you for sharing your input

The engagement period is now closed. The survey deadline was Monday, May 2, 2022, at 4 p.m.

Thank you to those who shared their feedback on which park improvements are important to the community. Your input will help inform future park planning at Klee Wyck Park.

Staff met with residents at Klee Wyck Park to share information and answer questions on Wednesday, April 13 and Saturday, April 23.

A virtual information meeting was held via Zoom on Thursday, April 21.

Watch a video of the presentation (YouTube)

Virtual information meeting Q&A (PDF)

Page last updated: 10 Jan 2024, 10:31 AM