Zipline and tree canopy walk attractions proposed for Queen Elizabeth Park | Daily Hive

2026 concept of the zipline at Queen Elizabeth Park. (Greenheart)

A zipline could return to Queen Elizabeth Park as part of a larger new attraction with a tree canopy walkway if Vancouver Park Board commissioners approve a proposal scheduled for consideration in next week’s public meeting.

It would introduce nature-based activities to connect visitors with the park’s forest ecosystem while generating new revenue for the municipal government’s parks and recreation system.

It would be designed, installed, and operated by Vancouver-based Greenheart in partnership with the Nature Agency and Triple Bottom Line. They would have an initial contract term of five years, followed by a renewal option term of five years for a total of 10 years.

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Greenheart designed and operated the successful temporary zipline attraction at Queen Elizabeth Park in Summer 2015. It has also operated the TreeWalk tree canopy walkway attraction at UBC Botanical Garden for the past 17 years.

The zipline would span 120 metres, running downhill to the north and offering riders views of the downtown Vancouver skyline and the North Shore mountains. It would begin near Bloedel Plaza, travel largely above an open grassy field, and end near the park’s duck pond. The attraction would be considerably shorter than the 190-metre-long zipline installed in Summer 2015, which ran west over the quarry garden. It would operate seasonally during the summer months.

The tree canopy walk would be located in the arboretum in the northwest area of Queen Elizabeth Park — west of the zipline — and would span about 300 metres — roughly the same length as the TreeWalk attraction at UBC Botanical Garden. About 10 mature, structurally sound trees would support the aerial walkway platforms and suspension bridges. The canopy walk would operate year-round.

During the process of analyzing the health of the trees for the canopy walk, three trees were identified for recommended removal due to a “high risk of failure.”

greenline zipline tree canopy walk queen elizabeth park 2026

2026 concept of the zipline and tree canopy walk attraction at Queen Elizabeth Park. (Greenheart)

2026 concept of the zipline at Queen Elizabeth Park. (Greenheart)

A small modular structure at Bloedel Plaza would serve as the attraction’s visitor centre for mainly ticketing and operations. A food truck or another mobile food and beverage service could be co-located with the visitor centre.

Greenheart would also operate a seasonal tour bus service linking Queen Elizabeth, VanDusen Botanical Garden, and Granville Island.

Tree canopy walks and ziplines are growing in popularity worldwide as eco-tourism attractions that allow visitors to experience forests from above while learning about local ecosystems. The attraction aims to combine recreation, environmental education, and conservation, with interpretive programming focused on the urban forest and bird habitats.

The temporary zipline atop Queen Elizabeth Park in Summer 2015. (Daily Hive)

The first phase of the attraction’s activities is estimated to require about $2.5 million in privately-funded capital investment and could begin rolling out as early as Summer 2026, with a three-month installation timeline for the zipline and six months for the canopy walk. All costs associated with building and operating the attractions would be covered by the companies, with the Park Board receiving a portion of the revenue.

Preliminary estimates peg pricing at an average of $16 per ride for the zipline and about $20 per person for the canopy walk, with discounts for families and annual passes.

Park Board staff began seeking an operator for a complementary attraction atop Queen Elizabeth Park after receiving direction from Park Board commissioners in 2023 to explore new commercial revenue generation opportunities. Then, in 2024, Park Board staff completed the procurement bidding process, which selected Greenheart’s proposal for consideration and review.

Moreover, the Park Board has since created an unsolicited proposal process that has resulted in numerous proposals for new business opportunities and destination attractions at parks around the city.

Park Board staff note that Queen Elizabeth Park — one of Vancouver’s two official destination parks, along with Stanley Park — is well-suited for the concept because of its size, central location, and elevated views of the city and North Shore mountains. They also reviewed public feedback from Greenheart’s temporary zipline installed in the park in Summer 2015, which showed very strong support, with 92 per cent of survey respondents saying the zipline should continue operating in the park.

Over its 87 days of actual operation (weather permitting days) in Summer 2015, the zipline saw about 23,600 riders, with 75 per cent coming to Queen Elizabeth Park just for the zipline.

TreeWalk at UBC Botanical Garden. (UBC Botanical Garden)

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