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Here is an issue regarding a local playground in danger because of too much thought by the boffins at the Parks Board that has many parents talking and you too may be interested. (see my paste below).
I’d like to get more parents interested and sending their view to the Parks Board and have set up an email account with an auto reply that provides details of the issue as well as contact info to which to send concerns.
Regards
Adam
The Parks Board has approved a refurbishment of the playground at Kits
Beach Park and the inclusion of equipment making it an playground to
special needs kids, an idea supported by all of us. However, they seem
to have gone horribly off track by suggesting the playground location
change, from the cherished current location, on the water yet with
plenty of shade, removed from the hubbub at Kits Beach Park, and a
truly pleasant and safe place to spend time, to a location further
south, hard up against the building housing the restaurant and
lifeguard offices. This location moves the playground further from
vital access by special needs children, and places it closer to the
noise, smells, and commercial traffic on the service road to the
licensed restaurant in Kitsilano Beach. It also moves it closer to the
crowds at the beach, whose presence is not compatible with the needs
of our children, the dangerous intersection at Arbutus and Creelman,
and provides none of the shade, relative quiet, and clear sight lines
that parents value in the current playground location.
Concerns regarding the lack of valid consultation and the subsequent
poor decision to move the playground to the edge of the building
housing Watermark, should be directed to the Parks Board General
Manager Peter Kuran and copied to the Commissioners. Given the need
to reverse a decision already made I would suggest e-mails followed by
a phone call asking that your concerns not simply be passed on to
staff but be dealt with by the GM. Asking staff to address their own
errors would result in little action, and suggesting to the GM that we
wish the issue re-opened lets him know we strongly object to the
process and resultant decisions.
In addition to the Parks Board’s involvement there are several
organizations who have generously donated to realize the vision of a
world class, accessible playground designed to enable all children,
including children with disabilities, to play side-by-side with their
siblings, friends and families, including caregivers with
disabilities. It is our belief that this vision and these
organization’s donations are being compromised by the nonsensical
decision to relocate the playground. We therefore think communicating
our concerns to these organizations is important.
2010 Legacies Now is coordinating the project, and funds have been
provided by the Province of B.C., Ronald McDonald House Charities of
Canada and the Let’s Play Project, a partnership of the Rick Hansen
Foundation and the Province of B.C. The playgrounds are designed by
Shane’s Inspiration, a not-for-profit organization that donated its
services, free of charge.
I have put all of the contacts for these organizations, together with
those for the Parks Board Commissioners, General Manager, and BC MLA
and Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC so that you can
just cut and paste them into your email address line.
peter.kuran@vancouver.ca, loretta.woodcock@vancouver.ca,
igrobertson@telus.net, stuart.mackinnon@vancouver.ca,
raj.hundal@vancouver.ca, constance.barnes@vancouver.ca,
sarah.blyth@vancouver.ca, aaron.jasper@vancouver.ca,
mvilvang@2010legaciesnow.com, brad@shanesinspiration.org,
bdewar@2010legaciesnow.com, rmhc@ca.mcd.com, wheels@rickhansen.com,
cewart@rickhansen.com, mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca, slee@2010legaciesnow.com
Commissioners’ phone numbers can be found at
http://vancouver.ca/parks/board/commissioners.htm
Thank you for your help. Let’s hope we can save preserve a playground
in a cherished location and see it safely enjoyed by all children.
Play Safe Kits Beach!
Thanks for bringing this to my attention Adam. I’ve posted your information verbatim at mamabrain.com where I think it might reach more parents. http://www.mamabrain.com/mama-rant-kits-beach/