January 19, 1992 Classifieds 986-6222 Cypress Bow! ponders increasing downhill and cross-country areas CYPRESS BOWL Recreations Lid. (CBRL) is in the early stages of ski-bill expansion plans. But in an interview with the News last week, CBRL manager Wayne Booth would not give any specific details about expansion or confirm that his company was planning to expand commercial skiing in the provincial park. We want to identify our defi- ciencies first,’ Booth said. ‘*We are a major mountain and there ts no access to the handicapped in the summer and winter.” But according to North Shore Hikers vice-president Lynn Webster, CBRL has some definite ideas about expanding its com- mercial skiing operation in the Cypress Bow! area. Webster, along with repre- sentatives from interest’ groups such as Friends of Cypress Pro- vincial Park, was invited to a meeting held by Cypress Bowl Recreation in early December to discuss possible commercial ski expansion sites. “*They talked about expanding the downhill onto the south side of Black (Mountain). And increas- ing downhill runs which would go through the Yew Lake area which is also environmentally sensitive,” said Webster. Webster said Booth and his public-process consultant, Ken Youds from Victoria, also talked about putting a chairlift up Hollyburn Mountain where runs would likely cut through old- growth trees. . Other areas discussed included: @ expanding commercial cross- country trails; @ upgrading buildings to perma- nent structures; @ and expanding the parking lots. Meanwhile, B.C. Parks Van- couver Zone manager Doug Leavers, who is responsible for Cypress Provincial Park, said any commercial ski plans had to fit in with the park’s master plan, which will be in draft form in May or June. CBRL will Present its plans ata public meeting in March. They (CBRL) have a right to plan within their area permit, said Leavers. He added that all downhill areas were subject to the provin- cial Park Act, which states that By Anna Marie D'Angelo Contributing Writer park resources, such as old- growth forests, cannot be removed except when the minister respon- sible deems that removal necessary (oO preserve or maintain the recr ational value of the park involved. (Another Parks official has said Cypress Park's historical reere- ational value has been skiing.) But Leavers said, ‘‘(B.C.) Parks is constantly trying to balance conservation and recreation. And nowhere does this show up more than on the Lower Mainland, where there is high pub!!. pressure from a large population w to recreate and that pubiic also pressures for conservation."’ Cypress Bowl Recreations has hired Vancouver-based Talisman Land Resource Consultants to do an environmental analysis which also must be presented with any expansion plans. Cypress Provincial Park, a Class A provincial park, has a history of controversy concerning its use. The park’s skiing opera- tion was privatized in 1984 and . CBRL was awarded the licence to operate the area's ski facilities. Back-country skiers quickly ran into park access problems because of rights-of-way controlled by CBRL. An _ amended _park-use permit was issued to solve the problem, which some back-coun- try skiers say is still unsatisfac- tory. Park proponents then rallied recently against a golf course pro- posed for Cypress Ridge, an old- growth area in West Vancouver municipality adjacent to Cypress Park. The golf course was rejected in a referendum held in conjunction with the November 1990 municipal elections. ‘4 think Cypress Park problems are related to the people viewing the park as a business oppurtuni- ty. Seymour and Manning Parks have comfortable relationships be- tween the ski area and park,”’ said Webster. A TL LE a Index @ Cocktails & Caviar @@ High Profiles .......... @ High Tech Monday and Tuesd: Highs 7°C, lows 1"C. Second Class Registration Number 3885 Carol Crenna on the sporting look Fashion: 13 Office, Editorial 985-2131 Display Advertising 980-0511 Distribution 986-1337 NEWS photo Neit Lucente Silk Purse Arts Centre FILM-MAKER Karen Firus, stop-motion animator Bill Maylone and cellist Joseph Elworthy are ail set for the Jan. 24 grand opening of the Silk Purse Art Centre in West Vancouver. The centre will be used by artists to conduct workshops and stage performances.