A section of Vancouver’s Stanley Park levee will be closed throughout November to allow for further removal of hemlock trees.

The seawall between Third Beach and Prospect Point will be closed from November 4th to December 6th.

The pier section will be closed “due to the risks of removing these logs on large slopes and to ensure the safety of crews and park visitors,” the City of Vancouver said Friday. The Prospect Point Cafe car park will also be closed, while a stretch of Stanley Park Drive from the Causeway exit ramp to the Prospect Point Picnic Area will be subject to periodic 15-minute closures until completion works.

The Vancouver Park Board is continuing its second phase the project axes approximately 160,000 trees in the park. Weakened or killed by an infestation of western hemlock moths, the cut trees are part of the city’s plan to ensure public safety and mitigate fire hazards.

Despite much criticism from environmental groupsthe second phase of the project was given the green light to proceed in October.

The second phase of the project is slated for completion in early 2025, followed by replanting next spring, the city said. Most of the tree work will focus on typically busy sections of the park, including areas near the aquarium, Brockton Point, the Chickadee Trail and along the northwest shore.

Between November 14 and December 7, a helicopter will be deployed periodically to safely remove and transport fallen timber from the cliffs above the breakwater. Use of the helicopter will be in accordance with the city’s noise control bylaw and will be conducted during the day between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Also throughout November, park crews will be doing their annual work to stabilize and maintain the slope near Siwash Rock. The concurrent project will see crews remove unstable material from the slopes and verify that the rock slabs are securely connected to the main wall.

“Making these necessary repairs along with this critical tree removal work will help minimize the impact on park visitors and reduce the chance of having to close this section of the levee at a later date,” the park board said.

Temporary detours will be established for those who want to bike, walk or roll down the levee during this time, the city said.