VISION QUEST
I thought I'd wrap up park board election notes in this final column before Vancouver votes tomorrow (Nov. 19) in the municipal election.
I heard from Vision Vancouver park board chair Aaron Jasper in response to the column I wrote for Wednesday's paper in which I said some Mount Pleasant residents are feeling blindsided by the scope of the skate park near completion in their neighbourhood. Jasper wanted to reassure me that an extensive and expensive public consultation was completed prior to the final design of the $900,000 redevelopment project. Jasper reiterates the park is for the entire community, including gardeners, residents with kids and skateboarders.
As for building a replacement pool at Mount Pleasant Park, Jasper said a space was left in the design should money one day become available, adding that the Mount Pleasant community is well served and there are other neighbourhoods that would like their aging wading pools replaced, so it's a tough call. As for a moratorium on bulldozing the now defunct Riley Park Community Centre requested by the Riley Park South Cambie Community Visions Committee, Jasper said the park board is committed to returning that area back to green space. He added a business plan presented by the group was not solid enough for the park board to consider turning the operation of the centre over to the members.
NPA FYI
NPA park board candidate Dave Pasin says if elected, he'll call for a review of the lease held by Hastings Park racetrack. Pasin says it's time to see how the track can be better incorporated into Hastings Park to make it more community friendly. Pasin suggests the track's footprint, including the infield and barns, could be used for community green space and sports. Pasin, who wants to see governance of Hastings Park returned to the park board, says the racetrack could add much needed green space to that East Side neighbourhood. Just watch out for horse poop.
GREEN SCENE
Meanwhile the Green Party's Stuart Mackinnon says if re-elected, he'll seek Safe Salmon certification for all city parks. The certification program is an initiative of the Portland, Ore.-based Pacific Rivers Council, which has a mission to transform land-management practices so Pacific salmon can thrive in West Coast watersheds.
WATER WORLD
Speaking of water, I heard from Celia Brauer of the False Creek Watershed Society who explained the group recently polled candidates for city council and park board asking where they stand on water issues in Metro Vancouver, the City of Vancouver and in the False Creek watershed. The survey includes 13 questions, which are too lengthy to include in this column, but are available to read online at falsecreekwatershed.org. The candidates' responses are expected to be posted there shortly.
sthomas@vancourier.com Twitter: @sthomas10
