|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
August 26, 2003 | |
Author: |
Joyce Lee | |
Phone No.: |
7088 | |
RTS No.: |
03566 | |
CC File No.: |
3653 | |
Meeting Date: |
September 16, 2003 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of Current Planning |
SUBJECT: |
Vancouver's Waterfront Promenade - Waterfront Center's Excellence on the Waterfront Award |
INFORMATION
That this report be received for information.
The General Manager of Community Services submits this report for INFORMATION.
This report informs Council of an Honour Award bestowed upon the City of Vancouver by the Waterfront Center, Washington DC, for `Vancouver's Waterfront Promenade.'
The Waterfront Center in Washington, DC is a non-profit education and urban planning organization that aims to assist communities and the professions in making the wisest and best long-term uses of waterfront resources for maximum public benefit. The Waterfront Center holds an annual juried competition to recognize top-quality urban waterfront projects, comprehensive waterfront plans, and outstanding citizen efforts.
This year, the City of Vancouver received an Honour Award for its Waterfront Promenade at the Waterfront Center's 21st Annual International Conference, held in Montreal in September. Judging criteria for this award included: sensitivity of the design to water; quality and harmony of design; civic contribution; and environmental and educational aspects.
VANCOUVER'S WATERFRONT PROMENADE
Based on a longstanding commitment by Vancouver City Council to provide public access to the water, Vancouver's waterfront promenade has been in the making for over 80 years. It is the result of a cooperative planning process that has engaged thousands of citizens over the years to help develop a vision for the waterfront, which once consisted largely of former industrial lands. The fundamental goal was to secure public access along the waterfront and expand the seaside promenade.
Vancouver's waterfront promenade has evolved into a system of either permanent or temporary linkages encircling the perimeter of the Central Area. When completed, the promenade will measure over 25 km in length, of which 9 km will be composed of Stanley Park's seawall. The promenade connects waterfront neighbourhoods such as North and South False Creek, Coal Harbour, the West End, and Kitsilano, thereby realizing a key aspect of the project. Its design and construction has been sensitive to the natural environment; the diversity of shoreline habitats created has helped local flora and fauna re-emerge after years of heavy industry. Public art featured along the promenade reflects local histories and contributes interest to the environment, which is at once natural and urban. Socially, the waterfront promenade has become a place for people from different places, cultures, and age groups to meet. Economically, it has fostered tourism, recreation and investment in the local economy.
Design, realization, and ongoing maintenance and operations of the waterfront promenade have involved almost all City and Park Board departments. The promenade has also been consistently supported and facilitated by successive elected City Councils and Park Boards. It represents a profound positive collaboration that has created one of Vancouver's pre-eminent public amenities.
Vancouver's waterfront promenade has been instrumental in helping to connect neighbourhoods and build a strong sense of place. This has taken vision, public commitment, private cooperation, money and a great deal of time to realize. Patience and perseverance, however, has paid extraordinary dividends in terms of building community, tourism, recreation and the image of the City.
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