The plot to bring community gardens to Lynn Valley recreation centre and Garibaldi Park succeeded Monday following a District of North Vancouver council debate that ran the gamut from user fees to food security.
Approximately 45 gardens will be located in the 5,800 square foot patch adjacent to Garibaldi Park's tennis courts. The Lynn Valley gardens will likely accommodate between 30 and 35 plots in a 3,700 square foot section facing Frederick Road, according to a district staff report.
A water hook-up is required on both sites.
Despite voting in favour of the $8,000 proposal, Coun. Mike Little expressed concern that community gardens sprouting up in Garibaldi would reduce the district's stock of open fields.
"There are very few open play areas left in the District of North Vancouver. So many of them are fields that are programmed and kids just can't go out and kick
a ball around," he said. "I don't want to see us always targeting those sites because it is a diminishing asset."
The district is being too generous in providing free land that is worth at least $135 a square foot, according to Little.
"I just wish there wasn't the expectation for us to subsidize the operation entirely."
Hopeful green thumbs on the 65-gardener waitlist often spend as long as three years waiting for a plot, according to Maja Regehr, president of the North Shore Community Garden Society.
The high demand suggests fees could be a little higher, according to Little.
"I will support this, I just wish there was more money being brought to the table by the people who are getting a private benefit out of public land," he said.
Using public funds for individual benefits is a common occurrence in the district, Coun. Alan Nixon said.
"I can think of countless other areas where the district subsidizes private person's endeavours. The recreation commission being a prime example. (As) somebody who doesn't use them, my taxes go to subsidize the use of people who do."
Mayor Richard Walton was the most enthusiastic supporter of the gardens.
"I'd like to see 10,000 community gardens in North Van," he said.
Walton suggested approaching strata councils about other locations for community gardens.
Couns. Robin Hicks and Roger Bassam jousted over the role of community gardens in food security.
"One day we're going to have a catastrophe in California because they're running out of water and the cost of produce is going to go sky high. So the greater opportunity and access to produce is going to be in our benefit," Hicks said.
Bassam disagreed about the role of community gardens.
"I think they're a great thing but they are not the answer for food security for a population of 2.5 million in the Lower Mainland," Bassam said.
Bassam suggested the community garden society apply modest user fees to fund future projects.
"I don't think it's unreasonable to ask people to pay $100 a year. .. not just to pay back but also to pay forward."
