This coulda been our nod to native roots, a Musqueam Memorial Park that honoured our 1st Nations' history with a proper 'GreenestCity' gateway.. as I discovered upon seeing a fascinating documentary on Channel 5 (Knowledge Network) aLL about the Musqueam Nation's efforts to honour their ancestors, whose remains were unearthed AT THIS VERY SITE -- THEIR VIGILS TOOK PLACE JUST DOWN THE ROAD, IN AN EMPTY PARKING-LOT! The heartbreaking missed connection/opportunity to stop this wrongful development is tragic, looking back..
Situated smack on traffic-heavy S.W. Marine, in a rare relief of sloping parkland, at least 30 thriving old-growth trees - some towering 4-5 storeys tall - silently await their fate, as advertised on giant billboards littering the park. Their replacement is depicted as a glittering urban centre bustling with nightlife: a slap in the face for residents of Marpole, one of Vancouver's MOST TRAFFIC-CONGESTED spots where air quality is saved onLy by this tranquil urban park..
So THAT's what Vision Vancouver's future 'GREENEST CITY' is about? 'DE-greening' would more accurately describe what's been proposed here -- if not TOTAL DISREGARD FOR OUR 'PROTECTION OF TREES' BYLAW:
http://vancouver.ca/your-government/protection-of-trees-bylaw.aspx
This news article clarifies some facts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/05/10/bc-vancouver-cambie-development.html
I went back & photographed this pending death-zone so you could see the stately elders that have outlived their human counterparts (ie. our ancestors, @ least those of us from BC) & provided countless benefits -- including mitigating nearby industry pollution -- as Marpole's only park oasis..
[Nov. 16, 2012: i cried my eyes out when, some months later, i drove past Cambie & Marine & looked to where those carbon-catching wonders had been bulldozed off the map as feared, along with every wild lifeform they'd supported, & replaced with the relentless snarling grind of construction -- our new concrete 'gateway' into a fictional 'Greenest City' -- CouveNiRs, city of lost yesteryears. My heart's still heavy with the weight of faiLing Mama NaTuRe (CRIES!) but I won't give up -- just need to find others who GET IT & work together to LEGiSLATE protection from govt. corruption/ heritage destruction..]
UPDATE: City Hall enquiry underway -- click on FLICKR. com/ParkInPeril/7)
See original timeline via photos of my attempts to save this urban parkland: FLicKR.com/ParkInPeril/.
I'm revising this post's date to put it closer to the top: Key lesson --that trying & failing is, still, FAiLing! Grr..
[Jan. 2012] I've been away - head in the clouds (well, on the Island actually). Which i regret. Cuz meanwhile, Vancouver's City Council has APPROVED another massive concrete 'mixed-use' tower complex called 'MARINE GATEWAY' @ Cambie & SW Marine (the 'Marine Drive' Canada Line station). I was there for the first time in months recently, & my heart froze @ signs showing what's in store for this gallant patch of green...
Situated smack on traffic-heavy S.W. Marine, in a rare relief of sloping parkland, at least 30 thriving old-growth trees - some towering 4-5 storeys tall - silently await their fate, as advertised on giant billboards littering the park. Their replacement is depicted as a glittering urban centre bustling with nightlife: a slap in the face for residents of Marpole, one of Vancouver's MOST TRAFFIC-CONGESTED spots where air quality is saved onLy by this tranquil urban park..
http://vancouver.ca/your-government/protection-of-trees-bylaw.aspx
This news article clarifies some facts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/05/10/bc-vancouver-cambie-development.html
I went back & photographed this pending death-zone so you could see the stately elders that have outlived their human counterparts (ie. our ancestors, @ least those of us from BC) & provided countless benefits -- including mitigating nearby industry pollution -- as Marpole's only park oasis..
A month or 2 after these were taken, this site had fast degraded to become a dumping-ground of advertising, billboards (more than what you see here), litter and random equipment such as excavators.
Here are PCI's heLLish plans for Marine Gateway:
& the City of Vancouver's Marine Gateway planning page:
[Nov. 16, 2012: i cried my eyes out when, some months later, i drove past Cambie & Marine & looked to where those carbon-catching wonders had been bulldozed off the map as feared, along with every wild lifeform they'd supported, & replaced with the relentless snarling grind of construction -- our new concrete 'gateway' into a fictional 'Greenest City' -- CouveNiRs, city of lost yesteryears. My heart's still heavy with the weight of faiLing Mama NaTuRe (CRIES!) but I won't give up -- just need to find others who GET IT & work together to LEGiSLATE protection from govt. corruption/ heritage destruction..]
UPDATE: City Hall enquiry underway -- click on FLICKR. com/ParkInPeril/7)