Many Courier readers recently told me they felt caught off guard by the 12-foot wide, separated bike path approved for Kits Beach and Hadden parks last week.
So here’s a heads up. If you live near John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park, the park board is developing a long-range master plan regarding the future of this popular green space, which includes several recreational fields, multi-use trails, an off-leash dog area, community centre and ice rink. The mater plan is expected to be approved by next summer, so
if you have an opinion or something to add, now’s the time to start paying attention.
The park was created in the 1920s and expanded over 40 years to the 27.3 hectares it is today. Trout Lake is at the heart of the park, which attracts about 750,000 visitors a year. The plan will lay out how the park is going to evolve and grow during the next 10 to 15 years and to that end, the park board wants to hear from park and community centre users and residents of the Trout Lake neighbourhood. According to a park board report, opportunities lie in and around the off-leash dog park, an expansion of the popular farmers market, and improvements to better accommodate small and large events and festivals.
At the same time, a parallel study on storm water quality will assess treatment options, watercourse enhancement, storm water inflows and enhanced recreational use of Trout Lake, which in recent years has suffered from high fecal counts. The master plan will support the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan goals to enhance biodiversity, improve ecological health, reduce combined sewer overflows and increase access to nature. A master plan open house takes place Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trout Lake Community Centre.
Rally against eviction
A rally is planned Oct. 19 at the Killarney Community Centre to protest the park board’s intended eviction of six community centre associations. Just three days later, the lawyer representing Hastings, Riley Park-Hillcrest, Killarney, Kensington, Kerrisdale and Sunset associations will ask a B.C. Supreme Court judge to grant an injunction against the termination notices. The Killarney association is hosting a free BBQ during the rally to celebrate what it says is the community’s ongoing support of the non-profit society. The rally is at noon at the Killarney Community Centre, 6260 Killarney St. at East 49th Ave.
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