Whistleblower worries about trees in park

A Vancouver park board employee has claimed that senior park board managers are considering removing trees in Queen Elizabeth Park to improve visitors' views of the city skyline. Brian Tittle, sub-foreman of trades at Queen Elizabeth Park, told the Georgia Straight that this came in response to complaints from tour companies and their customers.

"My supervisor basically asked me and a couple of other people in the crew how we would feel about doing some minor pruning and removal of trees to try to stall the ultimate removal of some other trees in the park," Tittle said.

Bill Manning, the park board's manager of operations in the Queen Elizabeth District, claimed there are no plans to cut down trees in the park. "We will go in and prune to maintain the safety of the general park area," Manning told the Straight. "However, at this point in time we are not planning on going in and doing any tree removals to enhance views."

Manning said it was too early to say if trees will be removed to enhance views before Vancouver hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics. When asked what he meant by maintaining safety, Manning replied: "There is one particular tree in the small quarry that has had some storm damage done to it. When there is storm damage, there is tearing of large branches. It weakens the integrity of the tree."

The 53-hectare Queen Elizabeth Park receives almost six million visitors per year. King George VI and his consort Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) dedicated the park during a visit to Vancouver in 1939. The quarry gardens were designed by former park board deputy superintendent Bill Livingstone.

John Bernklau, a daily visitor to the park for 30 years, told the Straight that he has always objected to the removal of trees as well as commercial activities in the park. "At one time, they actually butchered about 30 trees in there without letting anybody know just for the purpose of enhancing the view from the restaurant," he said.

Tittle said he is speaking out because he is concerned about migratory birds that nest in the many trees visible from the viewing deck. Like Bernklau, he also recalls when park-board management ordered the removal of pine trees about 15 years ago that were obstructing views from the Seasons Hill Top Bistro. This was done without public input and without any discussion at the board, he said. The area is now overrun with blackberry bushes.

In the future, Tittle added, the board should invite public input and seek the advice of knowledgeable scientists before making any decision to remove trees. "Certainly, Bill Livingstone, who designed and was the main force in developing this park, would turn over in his grave if he knew what could possibly happen with this park over the years," Tittle said.

Manning said that park board management will refer to the board any recommendation to "significantly remove or prune trees to establish views". He added that Tittle will not be disciplined for speaking out. "It's not a new issue," Manning said.

Brent Davies, owner of Seasons Hill Top Bistro, told the Straight that because of the growth of trees, it's no longer possible to see the city skyline from the viewing platform in front of the Bloedel Floral Conservatory. "I can't make a comment if that's a good idea or a bad idea, especially given the politics of this city about trees," he said.

Meanwhile, a park board outdoor worker at Queen Elizabeth is trying to generate public interest for a new "Little Mountain Lookout", which would enable people to enjoy Vancouver's spectacular vistas and eliminate the need to remove habitat for hawks, eagles, owls, and other wildlife. Ned Jacobs, son of famed Toronto urban-affairs expert and author Jane Jacobs, told the Straight that with the help of his brother, an engineer, he has designed a two-storey platform that the public could use for free.

Jacobs said he hopes the project can be funded primarily through philanthropic gifts and grants and be placed near the Bloedel Conservatory. He added that his mother has visited the site at Queen Elizabeth Park and is "very enthusiastic" about the concept.