The Green Necklace began as a vision of one of the City's founders, Edward Mahon, over one hundred years ago. As a central figure in the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company, he envisaged a "Grand Boulevard" that would encircle the new City. This idea was influenced by the Garden City and City Beautiful planning movements of the late 1800's, which was a response to the deteriorating conditions of industrial cities in Europe. Edward is quoted as saying:
"Completion of this great public way, with the supporting parks and gardens, will perpetuate health areas and pleasure grounds within a short distance of every resident of the present city of North Vancouver, and our municipality will have the distinction of possessing the most spacious boulevard contained within the limits of any city in the world - a great artificial lung, encompassing the central town, breathing, pressing, forcing into it health and vitality..."
This idea of the importance of the connection between the health of the environment and the health of the people is still an important component of the City's Official Community Plan.