Part of Pacific Spirit Regional Park is to be developed for housing
University Boulevard from Swordfern Trail, originally uploaded by Stephen Rees.
As part of a new agreement between the Musqueam and the provincial government a section of Pacific Spirit Park is to be transferred to the First Nation. The designation “park” will only apply to a very small portion. The rest will be cleared and developed. Government Press Release and Backgrounder give the details.
At least one the neighbours is not happy about that. I went for a tramp through the woods yesterday to take the “before” set of pictures.
Stephen Rees's blog 
Here’s an aerial photo of the Block F area – the “green space” to the west on the map is actually residential housing and the Block F seems to provide a logical extension of that community.
http://www.globalairphotos.com/large/BC/Vancouver/University/2010/0537/2
I suppose the complaint is that that, because of the golf course, the Block F area is really one of the only places to cross from the two parts of the park flanking University Boulevard – so in future, you may have to walk or cycle through a neighbourhood to do so.
Ron
April 1, 2011 at 12:41 pm
The GVRD’s map (copied above) seems to be deliberately confusing – colouring the park brown and the built up area green! And the air photo you found does not help much either. I took over 140 pictures yesterday – the flickr set is just of those on the ground within block F – and if you had followed the link to the Gazetteer you would know what the complaint is. That park land should never be developed (“Parks for the Public in Perpetuity”) It is also being said that wildlife needs a continuous natural route to link the two parts of the park. It seems to me that the school is the barrier to north south movement – and wildlife has to negotiate the golf course and its fences – as well as crossing the major roads (16th Ave, University and Chancellor Blvds) too.
From flickr there is a satellite map – and of course Google earth/streetsview too
Stephen Rees
April 1, 2011 at 1:10 pm
you will eventually find a better map of the considered parcel at http://www.musqueam.bc.ca/ubc%20golf%20course/AIP-Overview%20of%20Lands.pdf
that is, the fate of the heart and cohesion of the public park has been relinquished to the goodwill of a thousand souls with not accountability to the general public, and from the backgrounder we understand we owe this situation due to the reckless action of the Campbell government too eager to get rid of public land.
That is not good, it was quick and easy to sum up the Campbell legacy: What a party!… especially for the developers and road builders…
but we haven’t finish to pay for it…we haven’t really start in fact…and haven’t yet measured the real extend of the damage done by the inconsequential Campbell government.
Voony
April 1, 2011 at 9:35 pm
[…] Part of Pacific Spirit Regional Park is to be developed for … […]
Coming Events | beach girls
April 1, 2011 at 10:31 pm
@ Voony,
This land was transferred to the musqueam to help correct outstanding land claims in metro vancouver. How important you see that depends on how important settling land claims is to you. I see it as important.
If you dislike the development, talk with the musqueam.
I see a lot of tone of “towards a just sustainability’ here.
https://stephenrees.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/towards-a-just-sustainability/
I read the gazetteer:
“Regardless, if you believe in Parks for the Public in Perpetuity*, there is nothing to feel at the moment but outrage.”
versus trying to correct the way the govt in the past strong-armed the entire indigenous population off their land to take it from them?
mezzanine
April 4, 2011 at 9:24 am
[…] Spirit Regional Park. Part of Pacific Spirit Regional Park is going to be developed for housing. Enjoy it while you […]
Museum of Vancouver > Blog > MOVments
April 4, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Mez,
the gazetter also read “The Supreme Court of Canada has recognised Musqueam’s legal right to be consulted and accommodated regarding the use of lands which fall within their traditional territory”
I am all for that, and that doesn’t necessarily involve land transfer. The fact is that the Campbell government didn’t respect that.
I am also all in favor of settling land claims and think of it as very important… but does this Pacific spirit park land transfer achieve it?
if I trust http://gardencitylands.wordpress.com/5-musqueam-bc-agreement/
There is a BC treaty process for that, and this land transfer has been negotiated outside of it, and according to the Auditor General of Canada, negotiation outside of it “did not support treaty negotiations nor help resolve the First Nation’s outstanding claim”
That is and indeed, they are now reclaiming GardenCity lands now…
Voony
April 4, 2011 at 8:21 pm
If they do develop this it would be a disaster!!! don’t take more land away from the park it’s one of the most amazing things about vancouver! if you must develop I would rather them develop on the golf course but then again i don’t play golf so. .
I’m generally in support of new development as long as it’s socially and environmentally sustainable and I have never actually protested anything but if they do plan do cut down that part of the forest i would have to protest! not that it would likely do anything but damn! god i hope they don’t do this!!!
Emlyn
April 5, 2011 at 10:06 pm