Grandview Park set to officially reopen in East Vancouver

Following a long summer of phased renovations, Grandview Park will officially reopen on September 17.

“There’s going to be a barbecue, a cake—we always have a cake—and some entertainment and activities,” park-board communications manager Joyce Courtney told the Straight by phone. “I think there might be a demo on the multi-use sport court.”

The court, used heavily by local bike-polo players, opened on May 14. The playground followed on August 5.

The grand opening kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. at the park, located by the intersection of Charles Street and Commercial Drive. Vision Vancouver park board chair Aaron Jasper said he will be there.

“I think that everybody, including our staff and all the commissioners, were hoping that it would have been done sooner,” Jasper told the Straight by phone. “That was the original timeline that was presented to us, that this would have been done much sooner. But, from what was conveyed to me, this was really weather-related, that a lot of the final pieces, the laying of the sod and all the landscaping, had to wait until we had nicer weather. So that was a good part of the delay.”

Jasper said he’s been checking in at the park “on a regular basis” since the spring.

“As each section opened up, and we were talking with residents, the feedback was very positive,” Jasper added. “I know there was a lot of anxiety about why we were doing this. It really was no ulterior motive, other than we felt this neighbourhood deserved to have a decent park. And I think the end result speaks for itself.”

Comments

2 Comments

GregEh

Sep 8, 2011 at 9:05am

They did a nice job, polo court especially, but it seems like work progressed verrryyy slowwllyyyy.

0 0Rating: 0

Chella Ann Turnbull

Sep 8, 2011 at 11:21am

"there was a lot of anxiety about why we were doing this. It really was no ulterior motive, other than we felt this neighbourhood deserved to have a decent park." Sounds like some Drivers are smoking too much sativa.

0 0Rating: 0