Posted Jun 13, 2014, 8:11 PM
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A hole being Doug
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 498
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[Richmond] Garden City Lands Park
http://604now.com/2014/06/richmond-h...en-city-lands/
Quote:
Richmond Has Decided What To Do With 55-Hectare Garden City Lands
The wait is finally over, Richmond has decided what to do with the 55-hectare land along Garden City and to the disappointment of many, it won’t be a new shopping centre.
The Garden City Lands will become a major new community park with diverse uses, including urban agriculture, environmental preservation and interpretation, recreational and cultural uses under a Legacy Landscape Plan unanimously approved by Richmond City Council Monday, June 9.
The Garden City Lands is a largely untouched, 55-hectare (136-acres) parcel of open space on the edge of Richmond City Centre. The lands, purchased by the City in 2010 after decades of use by the federal government as a radio antenna tower site, are located within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). The plan ensures future uses will be limited to those permitted within the ALR.
Council’s approval of the plan marks the end of an 18-month public process in which thousands of Richmond residents had input on developing the vision for the future of the Garden City Lands.
“This has been a remarkable process,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “We had a rare opportunity to plan the future of a large and unique area of undeveloped land right in the heart of the city. We’ve achieved our goals of returning it to the public realm for our entire community to use and enjoy, preserving it as open space and an environmental asset and honouring our agricultural heritage. We want to thank our staff and the thousands of Richmond residents who participated in the process for their commitment in achieving an outstanding plan for this important community asset.”
Completion of the plan fulfils one of Council’s key Term Goals. In 2012, Council committed to completing a plan by 2014, before the end of its current term. Key components of the plan include;
Dedicating up to 50 acres of the site for urban agriculture and farming uses.
Preserving about 70 acres of the site in its ecologically-significant and natural bog state with boardwalks and lookouts sensitively integrated throughout to support environmental interpretation and public enjoyment of this area.
An extensive trails system featuring a 2.5-kilometre perimeter trail.
A community hub acting as a focal point for public activities and principal gateway into the park. It will be comprised of gathering and festival spaces, play elements, community and demonstration gardens, and a small cluster of service buildings.
An eight-acre “mound” on existing raised area at the north end of the site, which will be used for various neighbourhood and community uses with seating and picnicking, pathways, open grass meadow areas, fruit and woodlot trees.
A sanctuary area in the centre of park providing quite space for reflection and other passive activities.
A designated wetland, which will act as a natural collector of surface water draining through the site and a water feature for public enjoyment.
Public art and other cultural landscape features will be integrated throughout the park.
Approval of the Legacy Landscape Plan is only the first step in a lengthy process, Extensive additional research, planning and consultation will be required to further develop various plan components. The plan’s implementation is expected to be a multi-year process. Immediate next steps will include development of a detailed resource management plan for the site which will include site maintenance, water management and farm management; undertaking detailed hydrology monitoring and testing; development of a funding strategy and multi-year implementation plan; and establishing an interpretation program and phased programming strategy for the lands.
Building the perimeter trail is anticipated to be an early step in the park development. In addition, an on-site information event is planned for 2015 to provide further public access to the site, building on the success of the hugely popular Ideas Fair. Held on the site in 2013 during the public consultation process, the Ideas Fair was attended by hundreds of Richmond residents and provided the first extensive opportunity for the community to access and enjoy the lands in nearly a century.
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