Parks / greenspace

[Migrant_Coconut]

Twenty bucks and a free gelato to the first person who pronounces Smithe & Richard's new name.

First city park gifted name in both local languages: sθәqәlxenәm ts'exwts'áxwi7

(link)

Today the new park at Smithe and Richards, on the unceded territories of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, has become the first Vancouver park to be gifted a name in both the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh languages.

sθәqәlxenәm ts'exwts'áxwi7, meaning ‘rainbow’, was chosen by the Nations because the land where the park now sits was once forested with large trees and had many sources of water, including a marsh where the sun and mist would form rainbows. The name also reflects the bridging of the diverse people and communities the park brings together, and is a nod to the vibrant LGBTQIA2S+ history of the area...

Or we could just call it "Rainbow."

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Twenty bucks and a free gelato to the first person who pronounces Smithe & Richard's new name.

Or we could just call it "Rainbow."

Almost makes you think they "gifted" the most obtuse name possible to sour public opinion on the idea of doing this in the future.

When the local nation development companies name their developments, we get "lelem" and "senakw" and "Raven Woods"; When the CoV "gifts" a name we get "sθәqәlxenәm ts'exwts'áxwi7".

Looks like I and everyone I know will keep on calling it the "park at Smithe and Richards".

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by officedweller

PS - I also noticed a lot of street trees with tufts of grass at their bases.
I wonder if the grass would help absorb dog pee and lessen the impact on the trees?
Some places like outside Capitol Residences have not been able to sustain trees.

There is a street tree directly outside my condo building that has been replaced twice by the city and then they gave up and just removed the last one. Dog pee is the culprit I'm sure. The ones just a little further away get peed on but not as much.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by chowhou

Almost makes you think they "gifted" the most obtuse name possible to sour public opinion on the idea of doing this in the future.

When the local nation development companies name their developments, we get "lelem" and "senakw" and "Raven Woods"; When the CoV "gifts" a name we get "sθәqәlxenәm ts'exwts'áxwi7".

Looks like I and everyone I know will keep on calling it the "park at Smithe and Richards".

As you say, in a case like this it just becomes pointless tokenism. I'm curious as to how many residents of the local First Nations would even know how to pronounce that, or speak those languages. I hope the Parks Board at least have a translation like "Raven Woods" beside the indigenous name on the signs.

[Sheba]

More Than Half of Vancouver Voters Would Abolish Park Board

Public confidence in the only elected Park Board in Canada has eroded considerably over the past year and a half, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample, 52% of likely voters in the City of Vancouver think the Board of Parks and Recreation should be eliminated, and that public parks and the public recreation system should be placed under the jurisdiction of City Council.

“In November 2020, only 44% of municipal likely voters in Vancouver favoured the elimination of the Board of Parks and Recreation,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “This month, the proportion has reached 52%.”

Public support for abolishing Vancouver’s Park Board is highest among likely voters who reside Downtown (63%), followed by those who live in the West Side (52%) and the East Side (45%).

Vancouverites who voted for Kennedy Stewart or Ken Sim in the 2018 mayoral election are significantly more likely to endorse the abolition of the Board of Parks and Recreation (61% and 60% respectively) than those who cast a ballot for Shauna Sylvester (43%).

...

[vanman]

I'm happy the sentiment is growing. The parks board seems to be less and less effective at what should be their first priority: Maintaining the parks for the benefit of the taxpayers of Vancouver. The years of coyote attacks, tent cities, and geese shit covered lawns is starting to wear thin on a lot of people no doubt.

[Sheba]

Metro Vancouver looks to improve bus, bike access to regional parks

Most people want better transit and cycling access to Metro Vancouver’s regional parks, according to a public opinion survey conducted for Metro.

The survey was part of a study to understand how to promote the use of bicycling and public transit to access the parks.

The report found that one-third of Metro’s parks are considered inaccessible without a vehicle. For 10 of the region’s 27 parks, over 80 per cent of visits are by vehicle. The heavy reliance on vehicles for accessing parks has significant implications for individual health, the environment, congestion and equity.

According to the survey, 86 per cent of respondents wanted better transit and biking access.

“Creating more equitable access to nature is a pathway to improving health outcomes and enhancing well-being,” according to the report. The survey found that the lack of a vehicle was an “important barrier” for many people looking to access regional parks.

...

The report included 11 short- and medium-term actions that can be taken to promote transit, biking and walking to the regions parks, including continued expansion of greenways, expanding transit access, ferry and shuttle routes, and promoting alternative transportation to the parks.

...

[whatnext]

Have you always been charmed by the Vancouver practice of having logs on the beach in a very Canadian way to delineate your space?

Well too bad! The COPE-Green-led Parks Board knows better than you!

Park board staff debating if logs should return to Vancouver beaches
Shannon Paterson
Published July 6, 2022 6:09 p.m. PDT

The large logs that have lined the water’s edge at many Vancouver beaches have been a favourite lounging spot for sun worshipers for over 50 years.

When the majority of the logs were removed early in the pandemic to encourage physical distancing, the city found the additional space wasn’t the only benefit....

.Those benefits have park board staff debating how many logs should be put back. They were first placed on Vancouver beaches in the 1960s by world-renowned landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander, who died last year at the age of 99.

For Vancouverite Jasmine White, the logs were a favourite spot.

“I quite liked them. It’s nice for a beach day, you can go and sit on them and it’s close by the water. Also, it’s iconic Vancouver,” said White, who would like to see all the logs replaced...

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/park-board-sta...ches-1.5977536

[dleung]

I'm conflicted about this. The logs are great to sit/lie on for spontaneous visits (ie without beach towels) and give off a unique west-coast vibe. But they trap a lot of garbage and broken glass, and cast cold shadows over the beach at sunset. It was weird that they removed them for "social distance" purposes... wouldn't it have been easier to just mandate "one person/party per log" as most people already do pre-covid?

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by dleung

I'm conflicted about this. The logs are great to sit/lie on for spontaneous visits (ie without beach towels) and give off a unique west-coast vibe. But they trap a lot of garbage and broken glass, and cast cold shadows over the beach at sunset.

As stated in the article they also cost more than you expect to maintain too since they interfere with grooming the beaches.

It was weird that they removed them for "social distance" purposes... wouldn't it have been easier to just mandate "one person/party per log" as most people already do pre-covid?

Remember they also wrapped playgrounds in caution tape and plastic wrap. Whether the measures were overdone or not, it's easier to prevent an action entirely rather than try to enforce restrictions on it.

Regardless, I think this article is a lot of fluff and anyone trying to use it as an attack on the Parks Board clearly did not read the article all the way to the end. The logs are staying, it's just the arrangement might change.

[CivicBlues]

There's still plenty of logs at English Bay dunno what the big deal is.

[Sheba]

Shape Your City - East Park

We invite you to envision a new kind of park in Olympic Village including the renewal of the False Creek waterfront between Creekside Community Centre and Science World. Take the survey below, share your stories and hopes for this place, and help shape the design and future of East Park.

*Note: the project area is currently called East Park, however we intend to identify an official park name through a separate process.

[BaddieB]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Twenty bucks and a free gelato to the first person who pronounces Smithe & Richard's new name.



Or we could just call it "Rainbow."

To be fair, I learnt just the other day that Smithe was pronounced Smy-the with a hard th and not just Smith.

[whatnext]

Well, this is some good news!

One of the "worst parks in Vancouver" to receive $4 million redesign
Kenneth Chan
Jan 9 2023

Nearly two decades after it was first built, Yaletown Park in downtown Vancouver could see a significant redesign that improves its function and purpose as an inviting public space.

In recent years, this particular City-owned, 0.4-acre urban park at the northwest corner of the intersection of Mainland and Nelson streets has gained some notoriety for being one of the worst public parks in Vancouver, especially for its relatively young age...

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yale...sign-vancouver

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Well, this is some good news!

One of the "worst parks in Vancouver" to receive $4 million redesign
Kenneth Chan
Jan 9 2023

Nearly two decades after it was first built, Yaletown Park in downtown Vancouver could see a significant redesign that improves its function and purpose as an inviting public space.

In recent years, this particular City-owned, 0.4-acre urban park at the northwest corner of the intersection of Mainland and Nelson streets has gained some notoriety for being one of the worst public parks in Vancouver, especially for its relatively young age...

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yale...sign-vancouver

Good to hear.

That park was never properly designed.
The architects/landscape arcitects (Durante Kreuk, according to Daily Hive) did not accommodate underground or above ground planters for the trees, so they were planted with mounds of soil around their bases.
That created an uneven surface that destroyed the functionality of the plaza for farmers' markets and other obvious activities.
Hopefully they'll just level out the plaza by putting the trees in proper above-ground planters and don't over-design it by building fanciful jungle gyms.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Good to hear.

That park was never properly designed.
The architects/landscape arcitects (Durante Kreuk, according to Daily Hive) did not accommodate underground or above ground planters for the trees, so they were planted with mounds of soil around their bases.
That created an uneven surface that destroyed the functionality of the plaza for farmers' markets and other obvious activities.
Hopefully they'll just level out the plaza by putting the trees in proper above-ground planters and don't over-design it by building fanciful jungle gyms.

I feel like that was the intended design; Doesn't stop it from feeling like a dystopian post-Soviet depression park though.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by chowhou

I feel like that was the intended design; Doesn't stop it from feeling like a dystopian post-Soviet depression park though.

Here's the City Report for Yaletown Park from 2003:

https://council.vancouver.ca/20030724/pe3.htm

PARK PROPOSAL

Downtown South Context

The proposed development of three residential towers at 901 Mainland Street includes a proposal for a public park on top of the public parking in the south easterly corner of the site. The park is bounded by Mainland and Nelson Streets, by Lot 57 including loading docks of older buildings, and by the proposed development. The site is part of Downtown South.

Park acquisition in Downtown South is guided by the Downtown South Community Plan and the subsequent park acquisition strategy adopted by Council on May 16, 1991. Both policies set a target of 4.5 acres of park space for the neighbourhood as the minimum goal to serve a population of 11,000 residents, equivalent to 0.4 acres per 1,000 residents (the park standard is 2.75 acres per 1,000 residents).

The first park (2.3 acres) in Downtown South, the southern assembly, is in the 1100 block of Richards Street at Davie Street. It will be constructed in two phases; the first phase (one acre) is nearing completion. A second park of about 0.8 acres, the northern assembly, is planned for the 800 Richards Street block at Smithe Street. The park proposed in this report would add 0.4 acres, leaving a shortfall of about one acre to be addressed by other acquisition opportunities in the future. Population growth beyond the planned 11,000 residents, however, would trigger the demand for a renewed analysis of community service and amenity needs as well as funding opportunities.

Park Location

The proposed park location is at the south end of the development site. The choice of location was informed by three considerations: solar orientation, relationship with the Yaletown public realm and the distribution of other parks in Downtown South.

The Downtown South Guidelines emphasize the importance of sunlight in parks, requesting that shadows are to be minimized on a prioritized hierarchy of spaces, with parks as the top priority, and public open spaces as the second priority (2.6.1, a). The Guidelines further state that new developments should be designed to preclude shadowing across the property line of parks and public open spaces (2.6.1, b). Shadow analyses provided by the developer demonstrate that the proposed location for the public park is the only location within the development site that meets these requirements in a three-tower development. The proposed location offers the sunniest park.

The public realm of Yaletown is dominated by the presence, materials and use of the old loading docks. These docks extend across Nelson Street onto Lot 57 bordering the park to the west, thus introducing the vocabulary and potentially the uses of Yaletown's public spaces. Staff felt that this extension of the Yaletown character offers an interesting array of design and programming choices for the public park, linking it to the focus on arts and culture so prevalent in the neighbourhood.

The proposed park location is also a good fit when considering the locations of the other parks in Downtown South: the southern park assembly under construction at Davie and Richards Streets and the northern park assembly at Richard Street and Smithe Street. These three will form a triangle that is reasonably spaced apart, thereby maximising the accessibility of each for residents, workers and visitors in the area. Staff acknowledge the traffic environment of Nelson Street but do not have concerns with respect to acoustical impacts for this urban park setting.

The proposed park is also important for the Historic Yaletown neighbourhood. This park would provide a balance to Bill Curtis Square at the southeast side of the community, and help create a more complete community structure.

Park Programming and Design

The program and design for the park are developed in response to the Yaletown context, the immediate built environment and the character of the Downtown South Park that is under construction. The public realm of Yaletown features loading docks that are animated by the uses of adjacent buildings spilling out, heritage facades, materials that include bricks, granite and concrete, activities extending into the night, and a strong presence of art and design.

The concept of the park builds on these characteristics. It is conceived as a simple rectangular "outdoor room" with green walls: double rows of trees along the streets, and single rows along the buildings. These trees sit in large raised planters with lush seasonal plantings offering colour, scent, movement, variety and exuberance. The impact of Nelson Street is filtered through screens overgrowing with vines. These strong vertical green edges are perforated to allow pedestrian passage, drawing people in from the sidewalks.

The centre portion of the park is a softly undulating carpet of granite setts, studded with curving pieces of old granite curbs for informal seating under a canopy of ornamental flowering trees. More formal seating is incorporated on all four sides. Artful and subtle lighting will keep the park welcoming and safe after sunset.

The park is rooted in a tradition of small urban spaces that are designed and constructed with the highest quality of materials; it will be a precious little space that is attractive for a sunnylunch break, for a cup of coffee, or for meeting up with a group of friends. Yaletown activities will reach into this park with programmed events like farmers' markets, sidewalk sales, outdoor art exhibits and installations, or intimate musical and theatrical performances.

The character of this park is in marked contrast to the park under construction at Richard Street and Davie Street with its garden-like landscape of water, stone, lawn, big trees and colourful plantings, plus many play opportunities for children. Together, these two parks begin offering a variety of park experiences that are intended to be further expanded with the future park at Richard Street and Smithe Street.

The 901 Mainland project, including the park design concept, was presented to both the Urban Design Panel (February 19, 2003) and the Development Permit Board (April 14, 2003). The Urban Design Panel supported the project unanimously, and the Development Permit Board approved the preliminary development permit application for the project. Council approval of this proposal does not preempt the normal approval process, which includes the review and approval of the complete application by the Development Permit Board.

https://council.vancouver.ca/20030724/pe3.htm

Bleak winter pic from the Daily Hive article:


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/yale...sign-vancouver

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Here's the City Report for Yaletown Park from 2003:

The concept of the park builds on these characteristics. It is conceived as a simple rectangular "outdoor room" with green walls: double rows of trees along the streets, and single rows along the buildings. These trees sit in large raised planters with lush seasonal plantings offering colour, scent, movement, variety and exuberance. The impact of Nelson Street is filtered through screens overgrowing with vines. These strong vertical green edges are perforated to allow pedestrian passage, drawing people in from the sidewalks.

The centre portion of the park is a softly undulating carpet of granite setts, studded with curving pieces of old granite curbs for informal seating under a canopy of ornamental flowering trees. More formal seating is incorporated on all four sides. Artful and subtle lighting will keep the park welcoming and safe after sunset.

I used to pass by this park all the time when I worked in Yaletown and it has always sucked, but I'm pretty sure it follows this design pretty closely. Two rows of trees from the street, one row of trees from the buildings, the rows of trees are in planter boxes, they build the screens but like the article said the vines failed to thrive, the inner area is certainly "undulating". It certainly fails to be useful space, but I still think they created exactly what they designed.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by chowhou

It certainly fails to be useful space, but I still think they created exactly what they designed.

True!
It's just a lousy design for the activation that they describe (farmer's markets, etc.).
I remember the stone curbs were originally depicted as taller, which would have been easier to use as seating.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by officedweller

True!
It's just a lousy design for the activation that they describe (farmer's markets, etc.).
I remember the stone curbs were originally depicted as taller, which would have been easier to use as seating.

Yikes I can see why it's one of the worst parks. I would have thought it was a temporary plaza.