Feeding the Bog

Mackenzie Parry

The Beaver Lake bog is one of the few surviving bog wetlands within the city of Vancouver. The dramatic views and landscapes in Stanley Park overshadow this largely unseen ecosystem; the bog is not visible from the lake’s well-trafficked perimeter trail, obscuring its existence to park visitors. In light of the crucial role bogs play within the Coastal Western Hemlock Zone, this project aims to raise awareness of and increase engagement with this urban wetland. Highlighting the tiny structures that form on the top of the bog will reveal the first layer of the more complex, and less visible, landscape that exists beneath. The project’s design aims to create a space for pause, learning and play, inviting park visitors to engage with these messy and unruly spaces and thereby building appreciation and care for the health of this critical space.