Login / RegisterVision Vancouver's green-space agenda questioned
Parks advocateJamie Lee Hamilton is raising what she says is a fundamental question about the green agenda of Vancouver's ruling civic party. “Where's the green?” Hamilton asked in a phone interview with the Straight.
According to her, the city hasn't purchased land specifically for park space since Vision Vancouver won majorities on council and the park board in 2008.
Hamilton noted that the last major land acquisition specifically for park purposes was made by the city in 1993. It was the 3.05-hectare Trillium park site in the False Creek Flats.
Hamilton said that, although Vancouver's population is growing, city hall hasn't ensured there is enough park space for residents.
“Don't give us greenwashing,” she said.
Vision's Aaron Jasper, vice-chair of the park board, countered that the “availability of large-scale parcels for bargain-basement prices are far and few between”.
“And so the strategy has been, and it's been this way for quite some time, that when developments are approved, that's where you ensure that parks are part of these,” Jasper told the Straight by phone.
Jasper cited as an example the park that's currently under construction in the East Fraserlands,
as part of ParkLane Homes' development project. He also mentioned Hinge Park, which came with the development of the Olympic Village.
Jasper said that over the past few years, the city has bought a number of residential lots adjacent to parks. “It's not new parkland, but it's an expansion of existing park space,” he said.
A former chair of the park board, Anita Romaniuk, explained that the creation of new parks takes time. She recalled that before she was elected in 2002, the city acquired land in Marpole. During her term as a COPE commissioner, the park board started planning for the site. The next board approved the design. In 2009, the 0.4-hectare Ebisu Park opened for public use.
“So you've got eight years or so from start to finish for one small park,” Romaniuk told the Straight by phone.
Raymond Louie is the chair of city council's finance and services committee. Although the fourth-term councillor couldn't provide details, he said that the city's capital plans include funds for the purchase of park space. “There have been a number of initiatives that increased the amount of green space in our city,” Louie told the Straight by phone.
1. In their first term, Vision made the decision to replace only 800 trees for every 1200 they take down. Now, how is that 'green'?
2. On Global news last night, Mike McCardell reported a story about a 79-year-old man with a plum tree in his back yard. Green story, huh? Not exactly. With the exception of a tiny area behind the house, the "back yard" was covered in cement, as was the side yard, and I'm willing to bet the front yard, as well.
Thousands of homes across Vancouver ignore the City bylaw which requires 40% permeable soil for single family dwellings. The City doesn't enforce the applicable bylaws; no surprise given Vision's greenwashing reputation. Concrete front, side and back yards not only contribute to problems with overflow in the City's drainage system, and the flooding of basements of nearby neighbours, by ignoring the interference with the water cycle the City plays a significant role in contributing to climate change.
3. Early in their first term, Vision rejected the long in the making community plan for the north side of False Creek. The Park Board stood idly by as Council gutted City bylaw requirements for park space, instead disingenuously opting for 'pencil parks', that little strip of grass on either side of the sidewalk. The first time the Vision Vancouver Park Board let citizens down, but not the last.
Anyone expecting new park land from this bunch will be sorely disappointed. Those hoping for a 70 storey luxury condo tower in their back yard aimed at wealthy overseas investors will be less disappointed.