The Metro Vancouver Park Thread

[madog222]

St George Rainway construction underway.
Sidewalk and part of the street is torn up and sanitary sewer line exposed between 5th and 6th.


Photo by me

[Migrant_Coconut]

Correct me if wrong, but putting the garden on top of the pipes sounds like a really bad idea maintenance-wise (if that's what the plan is).

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Correct me if wrong, but putting the garden on top of the pipes sounds like a really bad idea maintenance-wise (if that's what the plan is).

I assume they're at least replacing or more likely moving it as it's excavated.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Correct me if wrong, but putting the garden on top of the pipes sounds like a really bad idea maintenance-wise (if that's what the plan is).

They said the green rainwater infrastructure is not going on top of any utility clearances. Most of the GRI will be built on the east side of the street. One of their slides also had an abandoned combined sewer and gas line. The storm and sanitary sewer seem to be 5m down in the middle of the road so that might be the abandoned combined sewer?

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/st-geor...69/videos/7461

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

They said the green rainwater infrastructure is not going on top of any utility clearances. Most of the GRI will be built on the east side of the street. One of their slides also had an abandoned combined sewer and gas line. The storm and sanitary sewer seem to be 5m down in the middle of the road so that might be the abandoned combined sewer?

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/st-geor...69/videos/7461

Thanks, you're right that pipe isn't a current in service sewer.
Manholes in middle of the street (sanitary left and storm right): https://goo.gl/maps/okFgH82YrQqLcZk1A

Cross-referencing VanMap and Google Earth the sanitary sewer looks to be about 3m below grade with the storm just below that level between 5th and 6th.

[Changing City]

Here's the final design that's being built. It's a remarkable project that was initiated by the local community over 15 years ago, was adopted in the Mount Pleasant Plan, and is finally being built.

[flipper316]

https://www.peacearchnews.com/news/s...-improvements/

[madog222]

Metro Vancouver proceeding with Bowen park purchase

Metro Vancouver has decided to move ahead with the purchase of 97 hectares of land at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island.

The MVRD board of directors made the call on April 21, following a decisive week for the park's future which included a Regional Parks Committee meeting on Wednesday. Some committee members questioned how much local support the project actually had, but were assuaged in part by a letter from Bowen Island's council unanimously expressing their support for Metro Vancouver's plan to buy the land and establish a regional park on it.

"We, the elected council of Bowen Island, are writing to you in unanimous agreement to assure you that, contrary to anything else you may have heard from any other source, we are in support of Metro Vancouver’s plan to purchase and create a new regional park at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island."

"We believe there is broad support in our community, and determination to protect, in perpetuity, an outstandingly beautiful part of the province, so close to Metro Vancouver. We are very excited that you have taken notice of this rare gem," read part of the letter written by the island's mayor and six councillors.

In a news release Friday afternoon following Metro Vancouver's closed meeting on the topic, Bowen Island Mayor Andrew Leonard expressed his support for the result.

"After a robust debate, I’m pleased with the decision of the Metro Vancouver Board today, it was clear that board members and staff have listened to our concerns. I appreciate the time that this gives both Bowen Island and Metro Vancouver to discover a collaborative way to work together in creating a generational asset for our community and region," said Leonard.

Bowen's council meeting on April 24 will include a first reading of bylaws to amend both the Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw to allow for overnight camping at the site. The camping component is widely seen as a necessary requirement for the project's success.

From Alex Kurial https://www.newwestrecord.ca/highlig...rchase-6893405

[Migrant_Coconut]

New boardwalk for Burrard Inlet's Shoreline Trail in Port Moody

The elevated recreational pedestrian pathway over sea water at the easternmost end of Burrard Inlet in Port Moody will see a considerable upgrade.

The City of Port Moody has unveiled its design for the new boardwalk replacement for the Shoreline Trail, which is the continuous network of waterfront pedestrian pathways that wrap around Burrard Inlet in the area — connecting municipal waterfront public parks between Rocky Point Park on the south side of the inlet and Old Orchard Park on the north side.

This will be a 440-metre-long replacement of the boardwalk, bridge, and gravel trail between the stair access at Murray Street and the juncture with the paved trail north of the bridge across Noons Creek.

First constructed over 30 years ago, the existing wooden boardwalk is deteriorating, and frequently submerged by king tides and storm surges...

[flipper316]

https://fvcurrent.com/p/othello-tunnels-open-2024

[SpongeG]

Just a random rant, more if not most of the parks across greater Vancouver could really use more bench seating, there is such a lack of it in all the parks I regularly go to. I watch a lot of travel youtube videos and love how the parks elsewhere have loads of benches.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Just a random rant, more if not most of the parks across greater Vancouver could really use more bench seating, there is such a lack of it in all the parks I regularly go to. I watch a lot of travel youtube videos and love how the parks elsewhere have loads of benches.

That and some shade trees. Sure, Stanley Park and QE may have lots, but many of the smaller parks just bake in this kind of weather.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by whatnext

That and some shade trees. Sure, Stanley Park and QE may have lots, but many of the smaller parks just bake in this kind of weather.

When half the park is a ball diamond or soccer field and then you add a dog park, there doesn't tend to be a lot of room left over for other uses. A wide open grass field is the most flexible park design, but it is fairly useless if you aren't playing sports.

This is why one of my favorite parks in the city is Barclay Heritage Square. Tons of benches, good shade, a fountain, and beautiful flower beds. I think it's pretty rare for a park in the city to not have a sports field, dog park, or playground (although the outdoor exercise gym is sorta similar).

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Just a random rant, more if not most of the parks across greater Vancouver could really use more bench seating, there is such a lack of it in all the parks I regularly go to. I watch a lot of travel youtube videos and love how the parks elsewhere have loads of benches.

I find it really hit and miss. Some have great seating, trees, shade, amenities. Others appear to be a complete afterthought.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Vancouver Park Board approves repair of Jericho Pier instead of demolition

The existing Jericho Pier at Jericho Beach will not be demolished after all, following a decision by Vancouver Park Board (VPB) commissioners to pursue a repair of the damaged pier.

The original recommendation by Park Board staff to demolish the pier was effectively rejected in Monday evening’s public meeting.

The popular public recreation amenity — providing spectacular views, water access, and a place for crabbing and fishing — has been closed ever since a January 2022 windstorm sent waves crashing over the breakwater, submerged the deck, and turned free-floating logs into projectiles.

The estimated “like-for-like” repair cost of the existing timber pier and breakwater is $1.7 million, including a 50% contingency for any unexpected costs. After an expected insurance reimbursement of $1.35 million, the municipal government will be on the hook for up to $360,000 of the total costs of the repair.

The rejected demolition carries a higher upfront overall cost of between $1.3 million and $3.6 million, including a 30% contingency. For demolition, the expected insurance reimbursement will be significantly lower at $550,000, which means the municipal government would be on the hook for between $750,000 to $3.05 million of the upfront cost of removal. The estimated annual cost of upkeep of the retained pier ranges between $100,000 for regular maintenance and up to $2.35 million for the worst-case scenario of repairing the pier again after a significant storm.

“Building like-for-like at the same elevation is not ideal. It’s not an ideal solution. I think everyone would like to have a renewed pier at a higher elevation, but that price tag is just too high to happen right now,” said ABC commissioner Laura Christensen during the meeting, referring to the 2017-approved design for a brand new pier, which is now expected to cost between $21 million and $25 million today — up from its previous estimate of $16 million.

The new pier design, built out of concrete and steel, as envisioned in 2017, would be 2.5 metres higher than the existing timber pier, which was largely rebuilt in 1977. Many pilings of the existing pier date back to the area’s original pier dating back to the Second World War, when the area used as a Royal Canadian Air Force base. But plans to build this new pier design to take into account stronger storms and rising sea levels have stalled due to the lack of significant funding required.

“The current pier is on life support, and this motion is to keep it on life support, and continue to have it on life support because we’ve heard from the public that this is important to them… I see keeping the pier in life support as the better option than removing it,” said Christensen.

The Jericho Pier repair option will enable the facility to reopen to the public sometime in 2025...

tl;dr - It's either repair it and save up for a replacement later, or do the replacement right now. The former seems like the right call.

[GenWhy?]

The funny thing is all the recent repairs they made due to damage got washed away in the last storm...

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Vancouver Park Board approves repair of Jericho Pier instead of demolition



tl;dr - It's either repair it and save up for a replacement later, or do the replacement right now. The former seems like the right call.

Agreed. If they demolish it now, it would never come back - think of the environmental opposition in future.
.. and Jericho Sailing Centre still needs some kind of rip-rap breakwater anyways, so what you'd have is liability from people scrambling out over rocks to throw their crab traps.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Vancouver Park Board approves repair of Jericho Pier instead of demolition



tl;dr - It's either repair it and save up for a replacement later, or do the replacement right now. The former seems like the right call.

B-b-b-ut staff told them it was a tool of colonization!

...The report adds that removal would be a reconciliation effort.

“Removal of this colonial structure will demonstrate the park board’s commitment to decolonization and reconciliation. Future changes at this site can be undertaken in collaboration with the host nations, with a key consideration being the linkage and needs arising from the redevelopment of the Jericho Lands.”...

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...ay/ar-AA1glKWV

[Migrant_Coconut]

One "oh yeah, and this would help reconciliation" footnote is a pretty big nothingburger in either direction.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

One "oh yeah, and this would help reconciliation" footnote is a pretty big nothingburger in either direction.

It's pure virtue signaling.

In this instance I'm happy to see the elected officials override staff.