19 July 2010

Commissioner Aaron Jasper, Chair,
and Commissioners
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation,
2099 Beach Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6G 1Z4

Dear Mr. Jasper:

The West End Residents Association (WERA) is concerned that there is no plan to replace the washrooms in Nelson Park that were demolished in the redevelopment of the park.

WERA wrote a letter to City of Vancouver’s Engineering Department in the spring of 2007 to inquire if the park could be allocated one of the washrooms that were negotiated as a community amenity from CBS/ Decaux in the City’s Street Furniture Program. Mr. Tom Timm, General Manager of Engineering Services, informed WERA that these facilities are to improve amenities for the city and are not intended to replace existing facilities.

In a letter sent to Mr. Jim Lowden on 0ctober 10, 2007, WERA again expressed its concern about the lack of plans to replace the loss of public amenities in Nelson Park. The removal of these washrooms seriously impacts the quality of the public space in the West End. In response to WERA’s letter, Kate Davis-Johnson, Manager of Park Development, stated that a “…request for a washroom facility at Nelson park will be considered in the 2009-2011…”

In a letter dated March 6, 2008, WERA wrote then Chair of the Board Korina Houghton expressing the need for a washroom in Nelson Park and requested that replacement of the washroom be considered for the 2009-11 capital plan.

Now, it is the summer of 2010 and still the residents of the West End still have no washroom in Nelson Park.

As you know, the redevelopment of Nelson Park has brought an influx of new users to the park.
On Saturdays in the summer a Farmers Market locates right beside the Park, drawing hundreds of shoppers and vendors. Dog owner use the innovative enclosed dog run. Gardeners have added colour and vibrancy to the park in the new community gardens. Children use the playground equipment while adults converse on the benches or sunbathe on the grass. The park is constantly alive with activity. But there is no public washroom for park users.

The West End needs a washroom in Nelson Park. Currently, vendors at the farmers market — who are there from early in the morning until late in the afternoon — have to use a washroom located a block away, provided by courtesy of the Mole Hill Community Housing Society. As these vendors deal with food products, a washroom is essential. Should Mole Hill tire of the security and maintenance issues resulting from providing washroom facilities to the Farmers’ Market, the market might well have to relocate. Homeless and other marginalized people who have nowhere to go but the park also need a washroom. And park neighbours, who find their yards and laneways used as improvised toilets, would also benefit from a washroom in Nelson Park.

It is three years since Nelson Park was redeveloped. The West End needs washroom facilities in its park. WERA respectful request that replacing the washroom in Nelson Park be made a priority.

Brent Granby

President, West End Residents Association
brentgranby@mac.com
c 604 716 2824

WERA gives FREE potties to area toddlers

Saturday July 17, 2010

11 am

Nelson Park

The redevelopment of Nelson Park was completed in 2007. The completion of the park was the result of a three-year process involving individuals and groups from the West End community who met regularly to assist in shaping a new vision of the park. The West End Residents Association (WERA) participated in this process.

WERA is excited about the renewal and the significant improvements to the public realm such as the new enclosed dog run, community garden, playground equipment, open spaces and water features. However, WERA, and other participants in the process, were disappointed about the destruction of the field house and the public washrooms housed in that building. The public washroom is a vital component of the public realm of the West End and it desperately needs to be replaced.

Thanks to the redevelopment, Nelson Park is again becoming a well-used public amenity. On any day of the week, there are people sitting, strolling, chatting, playing with their dogs in the dog run, gardening, or taking their children to the playground. And on Saturdays in the Summer the park really comes alive thanks to the West End Farmers Market. Unfortunately none of the park users — dog owners, parents, children, sunbathers, market vendors and customers — have access to a washroom.

Therefore, WERA is sending out a call to action to parents and other users of the park. Nelson Park needs a public washroom!

On Saturday, July 17th at 11:00am, WERA will kick start the action by giving out free potties to toddlers in Nelson Park and leaving some potties in the park for the use of children while in the park. Please come out to the park and support WERA’s call to action!

Because when you have to go….you have to go!

by Jim Stanford, Canadian Auto Workers

I’ve just spent an awesome year in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is a lot like Toronto: similar population (about 4 million), excellent cafes, diverse culture.

But one of Melbourne’s most unexpected assets is also its most convenient: almost everywhere you go, it’s easy to find a clean public toilet. This makes it eminently relaxing to wander about town, without needing to “go before you go.”

The actual City of Melbourne covers only the immediate downtown core, ringed by dozens of independent suburbs. That central core alone boasts 48 public toilet centres – each with several toilets, running water and soap, and special boxes for used needles. Half the facilities are on street corners; half in the many downtown parks and gardens. They’re cleaned every day, and locked every night. Two are 24-hour facilities with attendants. Not once all year did I encounter a public toilet half as grungy as you’d find in any Canadian donut shop.

The suburbs boast hundreds more public facilities, just as clean. My neighbourhood had several within a 5 minute walk of home. One is a large 1950s-style underground washroom in a busy Italian café district (with all those lattés going down, it is well-used). Few Torontonians would enter a street corner alcove like that, let alone sit on a toilet seat there – but in Melbourne it’s both safe and socially acceptable. continue reading…

photos of Nelson Park

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Nelson Park was officially re-opened on Saturday, June 22, 2008, ending the four-year revitalization process. WERA and its community partners spent many long hours working on the redevelopment of the park. Though there are still a few shortcomings (most notably the lack of a public washroom), overall we are pleased with the park and its features, including an enclosed offleash dog area, community gardens, a water feature and a children's play area.

< %image(20080621-nelsonpark.jpg|420|231|Gardeners at work)%>

To sign up for a community garden plot, send an email to plots@vcn.bc.ca.