A Vancouver architectural company will deliver a part of the city’s vision for the Arbutus Greenway.

PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. was chosen by city staff to design and manage the construction of the first two sections of the greenway.

A recommendation to award the contract worth more than $2.5 million is part of council’s agenda Wednesday (May 29).

The almost nine-kilometre greenway stretches near West 1^st Avenue in the north to Milton Street in the south.

The former rail corridor has been divided into eight so-called character zones, and two of these are going to be developed first.

These are Zone Three or The Ridge, which stretches from West 16^th Avenue to King Edward Avenue, and Zone Eight, or The Lookout, which goes from Southwest Marine Drive to Milton Street.

Based on the city’s design vision document, The Ridge is the “most expansive section of the greenway with panoramic views to English Bay and the distant mountains”.

“The eastern half of the zone sits considerably higher than Arbutus Street and is defined by a series of bold, angular landforms and retaining walls that create promontories for people to sit, relax, and enjoy the views, as well as accomodate public art,” according to the city.

Public realm improvements will include a “small grassy knoll” at King Edward Avenue, benches, public washroom, and rain gardens.

There will be 3.5-metre-wide and separated walking and cycling paths in The Ridge.

Zone Eight is called The Lookout, and it goes from Southwest Marine Drive to Milton Street.

“The Lookout is a place of connection: south to the Fraser River and Richmond, and east to the Canada Line Bridge,” according to the city’s vision document. “It is marked by an iconic, fully accessible lookout tower that provides views across the Fraser River Delta to YVR and the distant Gulf and San Juan Islands.”

According to the city, the lookout tower will be fully accessible.

The report to council about the selection of PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. was written by Alexander Ralph, director of supply chain management and chief procurement officer.

Ralph recalled that the city purchased the former rail corridor from the Canadian Pacific Railway in 2016.

A temporary path was constructed to allow people to walk, cycle, and roll.

“Since its implementation, the temporary path has seen more than 2,700 users visiting it per day, and has provided many opportunities for education, research and community initiatives,” Ralph wrote in the report.

PWL Partnership’s portfolio includes the B.C. Parkway, a 26-kilometre, multi-use path that follows the Expo SkyTrain Line. The parkway connects Vancouver, South Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey.