Grouse Grind Trail Closure Systems

BENCH Site Design, in partnership with Ian Stewart Landscape Architect, prepared a study to address the risks and difficulties associated with year-round trail use in Grouse Mountain Regional Park in North Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver Parks was interested in alternative methods, infrastructure, or systems to increase user compliance with seasonal or maintenance-related trail closures for the tremendously popular Grouse Grind trail. The study provided a review of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and Environmental Psychology literature, as well as a series of comparable case studies from across North America. The study concluded with a series of recommendations for trail and trailhead design, education, and improved communications and branding, as well as trail closure signage and infrastructure precedents specifically tailored to the site.