The District of North Vancouver unveiled a 20-year draft parks plan at an April 17 council workshop, although one councillor expressed fear that the plan will never be more than a plan.
"Over the last 20 years we've seen a lot of studies come forward," said Coun. Alan Nixon. "And then nothing tangible, or not a lot tangible, comes forward."
"We all embrace the concept of parks . . . but when it comes right down to it, it's been given the short shrift, financially," he said.
The plan calls for an expansion of Belle Isle Park, a new neighbourhood park north of Maplewood school, a revitalization of Maplewood Farm, and two new artificial turf fields to be located somewhere on the North Shore.
While Coun. Lisa Muri approved of the plan, she said the district needed to take a different approach to managing its parks.
"Are we looking after what we have now?" she asked. "And we're not really."
Her point was echoed by Coun. Mike Little. "We have a lot of old, derelict pocket parks that haven't seen a shovel in 25, 30 years," Little said.
Implementing the draft plan is projected to cost as much as $30 million over the next 20 years.
The plan calls on the district to pay for 30 per cent of costs, with the remaining funds coming from grants, developers and other levels of government.
New parks could also be more evenly distributed across the district than what the plan calls for, according to Muri.
"There are no areas to go north of Mount Seymour Parkway for little kids," she said. "The people that live here now will be taking the impacts of these developments," Muri said, referring to the anticipated growth at Lynn Valley Centre, Lower Lynn Centre, Lower Capilano Centre, and Maplewood Centre.
The district should also find a way to allow residents to store canoes and kayaks near the waterfront, according to Muri.
Her comments about the burden of development were echoed by Nixon.
While a few councillors acknowledged the difficulty in finding government grants to assist the parks program, Little said the district should be persistent.
"I don't want us to let up on the pressure for the grants," he said.
The plan should focus more on parks and less on trails, according to Coun. Roger Bassam.
"I've always had a nagging suspicion we had more trails than we need," he said.
The district needs to do a better job of finishing park projects, according to Bassam, who discussed Inter-River Park.
"It could be a hugely successful venue for the community. We haven't finished it," he said.
The same problem has been evident with the delay in installing bathrooms at William Griffin Park, according to Bassam.
Bassam asked city staff to investigate garbage management in parks.
The responsibility of keeping parks clean should fall on residents, according to Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn.
"It's got to be their park, not our park," he said. Although the area is currently taken up by housing, the plan calls for a new park just south of 27th Street close to Lynn Valley Shopping Centre.
"I'm still not entirely convinced we need a park there," said Coun. Robin Hicks.
The district should also make sure to consult neighbours before making any changes to Bells Isle Park, according to Hicks.
"It's almost regarded as their front yards," he said. "I'm just concerned if the residents down there take a look at that they'll be jumping all over the place."
