SpongeG
Mar 2, 2008, 3:05 AM
Nelson Park still far from perfect, residents say
After years of public and private consultation that produced much debate and acrimony, the redevelopment of the West End’s Nelson Park is almost complete. But with it comes more concerns from local residents.
“We’re happy with how the overall design has turned out,” said West End Residents Association spokesman Aaron Jasper. “You just walk up there and everyone seems quite content.” He has some criticisms, however; for instance, a portion of the park was seeded with new grass, but much of it was washed away by rain before the seeds had a chance to grow. Now, according to Jasper, the area is in danger of becoming a mud pit. “It wouldn’t take much to go back out there and do a better job of re-seeding and prepping the area,” he said.
There is also the matter of a new fence which, due to its placement, infringes on another six feet of the park.
However, the voicing of concerns seems to have abated over the past year. When redevelopment began, many residents took issue with some of the plans, such as using gravel to surface the off-leash dog area, and wood chips for the playground. It was pointed out that used syringes could become buried in the wood chips, potentially harming children.
Jasper’s wish list for the park also includes a public-access washroom. “The park is plumbed and it would be fairly easy to put in washrooms,” he said. “It would make it better for children.”
The wish for public restrooms may go unmet, according to Vancouver Park Board (VPB) chair Korina Houghton.
“What we actually did in the planning process was provide utilities for washrooms,” said Houghton, “so if it does come into play in the future, we don’t have to dig things up again.”
Houghton added there are some reasons to discourage the addition of a washroom in the park, such as the common fear that they would be used by drug addicts and prostitutes. Nearby school officials have told Houghton they don’t like the idea of having toilets so close to the building.
Deciding on whether to install toilets in the park is not at the forefront of the board’s collective mind, Houghton said.
HHH
Houghton offered reassurance that the ongoing redevelopment of Nelson Park will not be affected by a recent spat between the VPB and City Hall. The board came to a three-three deadlock on passing the City’s newest budget; now it will be returned to Council and restructured. Even though it was a tie vote, COPE park board commissioner Loretta Woodcock said the result was due to “a vote of non-confidence for the mayor.”
NPA board member Ian Robertson disagreed. “I’m ashamed,” he said. “This entire vote was not passed because of election grandstanding [on the part of COPE and Vision Vancouver politicians], not because of concern for the citizens of Vancouver.”
Vision Vancouver and COPE members rejected the City budget because it contained $346,000 in operating cuts. Robertson said he thinks the money could be better spent elsewhere in Vancouver. “$346,000 would probably pay for a couple of police officers,” he said.
Woodcock argues if Council had not dedicated money to projects like Civil City and the Downtown Ambassadors program, it wouldn’t be looking to the park board to save the money.
http://www.westender.com/
After years of public and private consultation that produced much debate and acrimony, the redevelopment of the West End’s Nelson Park is almost complete. But with it comes more concerns from local residents.
“We’re happy with how the overall design has turned out,” said West End Residents Association spokesman Aaron Jasper. “You just walk up there and everyone seems quite content.” He has some criticisms, however; for instance, a portion of the park was seeded with new grass, but much of it was washed away by rain before the seeds had a chance to grow. Now, according to Jasper, the area is in danger of becoming a mud pit. “It wouldn’t take much to go back out there and do a better job of re-seeding and prepping the area,” he said.
There is also the matter of a new fence which, due to its placement, infringes on another six feet of the park.
However, the voicing of concerns seems to have abated over the past year. When redevelopment began, many residents took issue with some of the plans, such as using gravel to surface the off-leash dog area, and wood chips for the playground. It was pointed out that used syringes could become buried in the wood chips, potentially harming children.
Jasper’s wish list for the park also includes a public-access washroom. “The park is plumbed and it would be fairly easy to put in washrooms,” he said. “It would make it better for children.”
The wish for public restrooms may go unmet, according to Vancouver Park Board (VPB) chair Korina Houghton.
“What we actually did in the planning process was provide utilities for washrooms,” said Houghton, “so if it does come into play in the future, we don’t have to dig things up again.”
Houghton added there are some reasons to discourage the addition of a washroom in the park, such as the common fear that they would be used by drug addicts and prostitutes. Nearby school officials have told Houghton they don’t like the idea of having toilets so close to the building.
Deciding on whether to install toilets in the park is not at the forefront of the board’s collective mind, Houghton said.
HHH
Houghton offered reassurance that the ongoing redevelopment of Nelson Park will not be affected by a recent spat between the VPB and City Hall. The board came to a three-three deadlock on passing the City’s newest budget; now it will be returned to Council and restructured. Even though it was a tie vote, COPE park board commissioner Loretta Woodcock said the result was due to “a vote of non-confidence for the mayor.”
NPA board member Ian Robertson disagreed. “I’m ashamed,” he said. “This entire vote was not passed because of election grandstanding [on the part of COPE and Vision Vancouver politicians], not because of concern for the citizens of Vancouver.”
Vision Vancouver and COPE members rejected the City budget because it contained $346,000 in operating cuts. Robertson said he thinks the money could be better spent elsewhere in Vancouver. “$346,000 would probably pay for a couple of police officers,” he said.
Woodcock argues if Council had not dedicated money to projects like Civil City and the Downtown Ambassadors program, it wouldn’t be looking to the park board to save the money.
http://www.westender.com/