To the editor:
Re: “‘Rewilding Vancouver’ aims to make city greener,” Aug. 1.
I applaud the Vancouver park board for unanimously approving the “Rewilding Vancouver Plan” which aims to protect, enhance, and bring greater awareness to the wilder and more natural parts of our parks and city.
One of the goals of the plan is to “increase the amount of natural forest, shoreline, wetland and stream habitat.” There is an exceptional opportunity right now to help fulfill this goal by creating a sizeable park on the currently vacant 21-acre lot, owned by TransLink, located along the North Arm of the Fraser River, south of Kent Street between Cambie and Heather Street. This parcel of land can be easily viewed from the bike and pedestrian bridge which crosses the Fraser and is within walking distance of hundreds of new housing units being built in the South Cambie area.
Three historic streams are currently paved over on the site. These streams could be revitalized to support wetland habitat, birdlife, and the eventual return of spawning salmon, possibly through participation with the Salmonids in the Classroom program in which schoolchildren raise salmon eggs to the fry stage and then release them in local streams. If you are interested in helping to make this new park a reality, please visitmarpolepark.com and please make your wishes known to the Vancouver city council and park board.
Christine Roberge,
Vancouver
