BARNES RAISING
The completion of Emery Barnes Park, located at the corner of Davie and Seymour Streets, is being celebrated this Saturday with live music, kids' activities and, most importantly, cake.
The parks staff designed the green space to act as a social hub for this downtown neighbourhood and with its completion it includes a pedestrian gateway, off-leash dog park, children's playground, benches, trellises and chess-board tables.
The park was named in honour of Emery Barnes, a community leader and longstanding member of the B.C. Legislature. Barnes, who died in 1998, was the father of Vision Vancouver park board chair Constance Barnes, who is also extremely active when it comes to community work. (I wouldn't be surprised to see Constance Barnes follow in her father's footsteps and run for a provincial seat in the near future.) Official opening ceremonies for the park run from 11 a.m. to noon April 28, while the community celebration takes place from 10: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
GOING GREEN
It might not be water to wine, but in Vancouver gravel to green is often just as valued.
The park board is expected to pass a recommendation at its April 28 meeting, which will see a gravel parking lot near New Brighton Park transformed into a green oasis called Creekway Park. If approved, the proposal will see the board dedicate $1.45 million creating the 3.2-acre green space between Hastings Street and New Brighton Park as part of the Hastings Park-Pacific National Exhibition Master Plan.
The new park will also act as a pedestrian and bike route between New Brighton and Hastings parks. According to a park board staff report, the on-street bike lanes will be removed and an accessible, widened offstreet pedestrian and cycling connection will be provided via a bridge-way tunnel. A stream proposed for the park won't carry salmon, but the staff report says it's hoped it can one day support trout. A 16-page report on the proposal is available on the agenda for the April 28 park board meeting, found at vancouver.ca/parks.
10,000 MANIACS
It's "Plantmania" time again at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
That's the word being used to describe the annual plant sale at VanDusen, which will see more than 10,000 gardeners invade the garden over a six-hour period this Sunday.
According to VanDusen, "Plantmania" is a condition that takes over the hearts and minds of gardeners that manifests itself into an uncontrollable urge to buy more plants. Gardeners can expect to find the more than 40,000 individual plants for sale arranged in various categories, such as Herbs and Vegetables, Roses, Grasses, Vines, Trees and Shrubs, Perennials and Native Plants at the April 29 sale at VanDusen, the largest of its kind in Metro Vancouver.
The plant sale doesn't start until 10 a.m., but gardening enthusiasts have been known to line up as early as 7 a.m. with their wheelbarrows and wagons. The sale runs until 4 p.m. Remember to dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. Admission to VanDusen is free on Plant Sale Day.
Twitter: @sthomas10
