[6] In the 1960s, the Maplewood Flats community was home to an assortment of individuals including artists, writers and displaced loggers that were drawn to its natural beauty and sought refuge from the increasingly urbanized city of Vancouver.

[6] Tensions between squatters and the residents of North Vancouver grew over the years and in December 1971 most of the mudflat cabins were burned down by civic authorities.

[5] Through the lobbying of public interest groups, actions were initiated to restore Maplewood Flats back to its natural state.

[4] Landscape architect Patrick Mooney, designed all the major enhancement projects for Maplewood Flats, including the freshwater marsh.

In 1997, the system was dedicated and is now a breeding ground for marsh wrens, common yellowthroats, wood ducks, American coots, blue-winged teal, red-winged blackbirds, pied-billed grebes, soras and virginia rails.

[5] In 2006, under the Wild Bird Trust stewardship, Maplewood Flats became the leading breeding colony in British Columbia for the migratory purple martin.

[8] In the early 1950s, Malcolm Lowry wrote the story "The Forest Path to the Spring" about Maplewood Flats, and the deep connection and sense of community he felt with the land and the residents living there.

The sub-tidal region provides key resources for many species of fish such as salmon and invertebrates, and dungeness crab, because of its ideal conditions for eelgrass.

[14] There are seven distinct bird watching areas within the Maplewood Flats which are listed in order from the beginning of the walking trail to the end.