Coun. Chuck Puchmayr would like residents to be able to zip down to Westminster Pier Park in a fun way.
Westminster Pier Park, which opened on the waterfront on June 16, is located on the city's riverfront between Sixth and Elliott streets.
Currently, the only way to access the park is via the neighbouring property that's home to a parking lot. The city has negotiated access an agreement with Larco, which owns the site located between Westminster Pier Park and River Market.
The city has provided $1.25 million in this year's budget for the overpass and hopes it will be complete by the end of 2012. The pedestrian connection would begin on the Front Street parkade, travel over Front Street and the railroad tracks and descend into Westminster Pier Park.
Puchmayr is interested in exploring the idea of creating a zip line from the Front Street parkade to the waterfront park.
"It would be a money maker," he said. "I think it would be totally feasible. I think it would be well used too. I am going to pursue it. I think it would be a no-brainer."
Other than the zip line that used to be a playground feature in Moody Park, Puchmayr said he hasn't taken any zip lines. He noted that there were huge lineups for a zipline that was set up in downtown Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Puchmayr said he will see if there's support for doing a feasibility study on the concept, and will talk to some companies that provide zipline technology.
