SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1
P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
MARCH 27, 1997
POLICY REPORT
DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING
Date: February 27, 1997
Dept. File No. 1063
C.C. File: 8015-1
TO: Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM: General Manager of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: Hastings Park - Approval of Restoration Plan
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the Restoration Plan for Hastings Park, as described in
this report and generally depicted in Appendix A, be approved
as the basis for more detailed design, phasing and budgeting
for the restoration of Hastings Park.
B. THAT staff report back by October 1, 1997 on amendments to the
lease with the Pacific Racing Association required for the
relocation of horse barns.
C. THAT staff report back by October 1, 1997 on a building reuse
strategy and potential management structures for the Agrodome,
the Garden Auditorium, the Forum and Rollerland.
D. THAT staff report back prior to October 1, 1997 with a
detailed development plan including phasing and budgeting
recommendations for the whole site, including building reuse
capital and operating requirements and detailed landscape
plans and budget requirements for the first phase of park
restoration.
E. THAT the Board and Council express their sincere appreciation
to the members of Hastings Park Working Committee for their
diligent work over the last 2 years.
COUNCIL/BOARD POLICY
City Council and Park Board are both committed to the "greening of
Hastings Park". In February 1996, the Board and Council approved the
Restoration Program as the basis for the development of a conceptual
design plan. In January 1990, Council approved a general concept for the
redevelopment of Hastings Park: "THAT the site be restored to dominant
park use with abundant green space and trees, instead of asphalt and
buildings".
PURPOSE
The General Manager of Parks and Recreation recommends approval of the
Restoration Plan for the "greening of Hastings Park". The plan is based
on the Restoration Program approved in 1996, and is supported by 11 of
the 12 members of the Hastings Park Working Committee. An in-depth
public consultation process was undertaken between November 1996 and
February 1997, reaching out to over 2,000 people (see Appendix D). The
public input assisted City staff, consultants and the Working Committee
in recommending the plan contained in this report.
BACKGROUND
Since the late-1970s, residents near Hastings Park have been advocating
for the "greening of Hastings Park". City Council has been supportive of
this vision, as expressed in the 1990 report entitled "The Future of
Hastings Park". In May 1994, the City and the Province agreed that the
City owned the site in "fee simple" and could proceed with the
restoration of the site.
In March 1995, Council requested that the Park Board prepare plans for
the "greening of Hastings Park", with the assistance of the newly-formed
Hastings Park Working Committee (see Appendix C). The first step was to
agree on a program of activities, which was completed in February 1996,
when the Board and Council unanimously approved the Hastings Park
Restoration Program.
The second step has been the creation of a Restoration Plan for the
park. In April 1996, the Park Board hired a landscape consultant,
Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg Inc., to assist with the general design of
open spaces and buildings on the site. Three basic options were
generated and presented to the public in the fall of 1996 (see Appendix
E). The Working Committee subsequently narrowed down the choice to one
of two options (see Appendix F).
The recommended Restoration Plan (see Appendix A) combines elements of
the various options, and meets a number of basic criteria, as set out in
the Restoration Program (see Appendix B):
- restoring the stream that used to go through the site;
- creating a large tranquil green zone in the park (the sanctuary);
- providing indoor and outdoor spaces for sports and arts;
- linking Hastings Park with surrounding parks and neighbourhoods;
- integrating the horse racetrack into the park;
- keeping the Coliseum, Agrodome and Garden Auditorium;
- providing adequate parking.
THE RESTORATION PLAN (see Appendix A)
The recommended Restoration Plan will lead to the creation of about 92
acres of green park space on the 162 acre site. The remaining 70 acres
are composed of the horse racetrack (51 acres), parking (12 acres) and
buildings (7 acres). When completed, Hastings Park will become the
City's second largest park.
Hastings Park will present many faces to its diverse users, from
tranquil spots in the sanctuary, to community gathering places near
Hastings & Renfrew, to the hub of daily activities that occur at the
racetrack and the horse barns. The Restoration Plan carefully integrates
these various uses together, yet provides each activity with enough
space to strongly define itself in the landscape.
A large sanctuary is planned for the southern half of the park, a
natural serene setting with water, trees and walking trails as its key
features. The restored Hastings Creek will carry rain water from the
neighbourhood into Burrard Inlet, and hopefully draw salmon from the
ocean into the park.
A central green connection to the waterfront is created in the northern
half of the park, located between the racetrack and the relocated horse
barns. This measure will ensure a proper integration of the racetrack in
Hastings Park, as well as provide a vital link into New Brighton Park.
The plan also includes several viewing areas in order to take advantage
of the spectacular views of the North Shore mountains, Burrard Inlet and
into the racetrack.
Active areas such as sports fields, hard surface play courts, buildings,
horse barns and parking are kept on the edges of the park. Three tennis
courts, two basketball courts, two soccer fields and two ball diamonds
are to be provided. Four buildings will be retained for community use:
the Agrodome, the Garden Auditorium, the Forum and Rollerland. A total
of 2,300 parking spaces is provided on and around the site.
The Sanctuary
All three preliminary options included a sanctuary, which is composed of
the stream, several ponds, wetlands, forests, woodlands, and open
meadows. The sanctuary is seen by almost all as the heart and soul of
the new park. There is a strong desire by the public to ensure that the
stream be capable of bearing salmon, that the forested areas become
nesting grounds for many birds, that wildlife make Hastings Park their
home, that the sanctuary become a thriving ecosystem in this urban
community. The sanctuary was overwhelmingly supported in the public
process.
"Restoration of Hastings Creek is central to the restoration of the park
- the stream will become the heart of the new sanctuary", reads the
Restoration Program. The stream is about 1 km in length. It will be
designed as a beautiful feature in the sanctuary, and yet, play a key
role in storm water management in the Hastings neighbourhood. The Park
Board and Engineering Services are working cooperatively on the creation
of a biofiltration marsh in Hastings Park, which would filter the rain
water collected in the park and from adjacent residential properties and
streets, before feeding the water into the stream and eventually into
Burrard Inlet. An integral component of this project is the separation
of sewers in the area to the south of the park.
In order to maximize the size of the sanctuary, the Restoration Plan
foresees the removal of the B.C. Pavilion, the Livestock Building, the
Poultry Building and the Display Barn. The Challenger Relief Map of B.C.
will be saved and moved to a new location, and portions of the facade of
the Livestock Building are proposed to be kept and restored as a feature
in the new park.
"Windermere Hill": The Viewing Area
Another key element in the heart of the new park will be the viewing
area. "Windermere Hill" will be located where Playland now stands, on
the high-point of the site. It affords fabulous views of North Shore
mountains, Burrard Inlet, and into the horse racetrack. All three
options shown to the public included this feature, which was widely
supported throughout the public process.
The viewing area can be formal in character, such as the ones in Queen
Elizabeth Park and Charleson Park, or be more informal, such as the ones
in the parks along Wall Street and Point Grey Road. One of the ideas
generated during this phase was a proposal to retain one of the hills of
the wooden rollercoaster, and convert it into a spectacular viewing
platform by replacing the rails with a set of stairs.
Connection to New Brighton Park
One of the three options presented to the public included a central
green connection to New Brighton Park. This central park corridor would
be located between the racetrack oval and the horse barns, with a
pedestrian landbridge connecting Hastings Park to New Brighton Park. The
central connection is achieved by rebuilding the horse stables adjacent
to the Cassiar Connector, on the parking lot currently known as "Lot 9",
so that the area between the racetrack and the barns becomes park space.
The central park connection was well supported throughout the public
process, when compared to easterly connections. The benefits of the
central connection are:
a) to create a direct link with the waterfront in New Brighton Park
without forcing pedestrians and cyclists to use tunnels;
b) to take advantage of the open space in the racetrack oval, so that
park users can see inside the racetrack (a green area of about 15
acres) as well as get better views of Burrard Inlet and the North
Shore mountains; and
c) to allow the stream to follow as closely as possible the route of
the original stream bed.
This central connection is nevertheless a major undertaking for the
Pacific Racing Association (P.R.A.). The barns must be gradually rebuilt
in order to create the central public corridor. The construction will
take significant time, and involves the amendment of the P.R.A. lease.
Staff will report back by October 1, 1997 on the status of negotiations
with the P.R.A. related to amendments to the lease, and prepare a
detailed development and phasing plan for the barn relocation and the
creation of this central corridor.
For its part, the City must commit to building a well-designed
pedestrian landbridge connecting Hastings Park with New Brighton Park.
It will have to cross the 6 lanes along McGill Street, the 4 rail lines
of the C.P.R., and the soon-to-be-built access road to the Alberta Wheat
Pool. This proposed landbridge will be park-like in character, not
unlike the one built at the foot of Laurel Street that connects Fairview
Slopes to Charleson Park on the waterfront.
The exact location, design and construction of the landbridge will be
determined when that area of the park is designed in greater detail and
the design for New Brighton Park gets underway, with the latter to begin
shortly. Landbridge alternatives to be explored include the two options
shown in Appendix G.
The Horse Racetrack
The Restoration Program states: "the racetrack will fully integrate
within Hastings Park, ensuring that facilities blend in well with the
program to green the park". Views into the racetrack are significantly
improved, thus removing the racetrack from its isolated position in the
park. In fact, by moving the barns next to the Cassiar Connector and
creating the central park connection, the racetrack becomes intimately
woven into the fabric of the park.
The P.R.A. is very supportive of the Restoration Plan, which will
provide them with a very attractive setting. The relocation of their
barns allows the P.R.A. to provide modern stabling facilities for the
duration of their 25-year lease.
Buildings along Renfrew Street
The Restoration Plan builds on the "pedestrian street" that has been
created with the row of Art Deco buildings along Renfrew Street. This
area, called the "AllÇe of the Rain Gardens", will become an active hub
in the park, with a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Sports,
leisure and arts will all be part of the family of daily events that
will occur along the "AllÇe".
The Restoration Plan foresees the retention of four PNE buildings for
community use: the Garden Auditorium, the Forum, Rollerland and the
Agrodome. In order to create outdoor areas for basketball courts, tennis
courts, flower gardens, and children's play areas, three buildings are
removed from this area: the Administration Building, the Food Building
and Showmart. The existing Momiji Garden will be better integrated into
this area.
The Restoration Program states that the Agrodome and the Garden
Auditorium will be preserved, but that the Forum and Rollerland may be
retained or demolished. A consultant, Proscenium Architecture &
Interiors Inc., was hired in July 1996 to prepare potential reuse
options for the Garden Auditorium, the Forum and Rollerland. (The
Agrodome was not included in the study because Park Board will continue
to use the building as an ice rink.)
The consultant concluded that the three buildings are structurally
sound, and there are enough potential uses to justify the retention of
the three buildings, including the Forum and Rollerland. This finding
matched the public's preference of having adequate indoor space for
community arts and sports, and therefore the retention of the Forum and
Rollerland. The Heritage Commission also favoured the retention of these
two Art Deco buildings. The consultant has prepared two building reuse
scenarios (see table):
BUILDING REUSE: OPTION A OPTION B
Garden Auditorium: Community Hall: arts Community Hall: gym
Rollerland: Youth Pavilion Community Arts Place
Forum (north end): Indoor Lawn Bowling Youth Pavilion
Forum (south end): Gymnasium/Athletics Gymnasium/Athletics
Capital Cost: $3.5 million (est.) $4.3 million (est.)
Operating Cost: $500,000/year (est.) $500,000/year (est.)
The Hastings Park Working Committee expressed its support for Option B,
and is strongly opposed to Option A. Park Board staff believe more
research and discussion are needed, and will report back by October 1,
1997 with a building reuse strategy. The report will recommend long-term
and interim uses for each building, capital costs for renovations,
operating costs for each use, building management options, and an
implementation strategy.
Empire Sports Fields
The Restoration Plan identifies the site of the old Empire Stadium as
the location for two soccer fields, two ball diamonds and a fieldhouse
for amateur sports. Informal spectator seating will be on the sloped
land around the grass fields. Trees and bushes will be used to enclose
the sports fields area and soften its edges.
The Empire fields' location has the following benefits: a) it allows the
building of regulation sized sports fields; b) it will be far enough
away from residential uses so that noise complaints will be minimized,
and c) it puts sports fields back into the Empire Stadium "bowl", a
location that has a long sports history. The Bannister-Landy statue
could be relocated in Empire fields.
Greenways
The park plan links up with the two Council-approved greenways:
a) the north-south greenway (called the "Eastside Crosscut")
connecting Hastings Park to Renfrew Ravine Park. Preliminary plans
suggest that the greenway would be located along Windermere Street
south of Hastings Park; and
b) the east-west greenway along Burrard Inlet (called the "Harbour
Route") connecting to Portside Park. Preliminary plans suggest that the greenway would be located on Wall Street west of Hastings Park
and New Brighton Park. The route is also proposed to head further
east into Burnaby.
Park Board will continue to work with Engineering and Planning
Department greenways staff.
Connections to Adjacent Parks
The Hastings Park Restoration Plan (in particular, the central park
connection) and the construction of the new Port Overpass in 1997 both
have important implications for New Brighton Park. These changes will
lead to the replanning of New Brighton Park and its park expansion area
(to the west of the park). A landscape architect consultant has been
retained to assist with the preparation of new plans for the waterfront
park.
The Hastings Community Centre is in the process of replanning Hastings
Community Park (south of Hastings St.). Its plan will tie into the
Restoration Plan. One option being explored is extending the stream
under Hastings Street and into Hastings Community Park. Engineering
Services have confirmed that this option is feasible.
Pacific Coliseum
Council identified the Coliseum as one of the buildings to remain on
site. At this time, there is no specified program of use for the
Coliseum. Considerable interest in retaining the building has been
expressed by live entertainment interests and trade and consumer show
organizers. The extension of the PNE lease through 1997 has, however,
halted discussions about a new operating model for the building. These
discussions are underway again and are being conducted with the General
Manager of Community Services and the Director of Civic Theatres.
Future viability of the Coliseum will depend to a large extent on some
capital refurbishing (notably the roof) and outfitting with the
necessary furnishings and equipment (the PNE owns the existing
furnishings and equipment and have indicated their intention to move
these into storage, until they have secured a new site). Carrying out
the renovations and replacing the furnishings and equipment could cost
approximately $2-3 million.
The Restoration Plan assumes that the Coliseum will remain and that its
most likely future uses will be a combination of live entertainment and
trade and consumer shows.
Parking
The largest users of parking will be racetrack patrons (the issue of
Coliseum parking is discussed below). The lease with the racetrack
states that 2,500 spaces need to be provided until January 1, 2004.
After this date, the Restoration Program approved in 1996 suggested that
2,200 spaces be provided. The Restoration Plan recommends providing
2,300 spaces, distributed as follows:
- 1,150 spaces on-site in Hastings Park;
- 850 spaces in off-site lots, mostly south of Hastings Street on
Hastings Park Trust Lands;
- 300 spaces on-street, created on Renfrew, Hastings, Pender, and
Bridgeway Streets immediately adjacent to Hastings Park.
The Park Board retained Ward Consulting Group Inc. to conduct a traffic
and parking study. Following a survey of racetrack patrons and based on
supplying the 85th percentile of demand, the following estimated design
parking demand was determined:
Racetrack Parking: 2,600 spaces
Park Uses: 250 spaces
TOTAL DESIGN PARKING DEMAND: 2,850 SPACES
Engineering Services has reviewed this figure, and generally concurs
with this design parking demand number. The provision of 2,300 parking
spaces in the Restoration Plan leaves a shortfall of 550 spaces. As the
Park Board wishes to proceed with the provision of 2,300 parking spaces,
Engineering Services notes the following:
- If the parking supply is kept at 2,300 spaces, the parking
shortfall will result in a direct impact on the adjacent
neighbourhood, mostly to the west and south of the racetrack.
There will be 54 event days at the racetrack out of the total 121
event days (45% of events) where there will be overspill parking in
the neighbourhood.
- The majority of the parking for the racetrack has been relocated
away from sites adjacent to the grandstand and to the perimeter of
the Hastings Park site. This may reduce patronage to these lots,
and may increase neighbourhood impacts.
- The area has a history of neighbourhood and backyard parking and
traffic problems. Although some residents embrace backyard parking,
many residents have complained about this issue to Council on
several occasions. There is considerable expectation in the
neighbourhood that the departure of the P.N.E. and the provision of
the new park will reduce the amount of overspill parking on their
residential streets. Although the departure of the P.N.E. and the
reduction of events at the Coliseum will reduce the amount of
overspill parking, the provision of 2,300 parking spaces will
continue to generate some overspill parking in the future.
- If an additional 550 spaces were provided in Hastings Park in
surface parking lots, this would result in a loss of an additional
5.5 acres of green park space, which represents 6% of the area that
is proposed to be "greened".
- The Restoration Program approved in 1996 states that the
residential quadrant bordered by Renfrew, Hastings, Nanaimo, and
Wall Street should undergo a community consultation process to
protect the area from overflow traffic and parking related to
events in the park. To date, this consultation has not yet occurred
and should occur prior to a decision being made on the future of
the Coliseum, or prior to January 1, 2004 (the date until which the
City is required to provide 2,500 parking spaces on site),
whichever comes first.
Coliseum Parking
The parking provisions discussed above do not include parking for the
Coliseum. The Coliseum requires about 2,500 spaces, which could
generally be accommodated within the parking provisions above, if
Coliseum events do not run concurrently with Racetrack events. If the
Coliseum has many overlapping dates with racetrack events, one solution
would be to provide a multi-level parking structure for the additional
2,500 parking spaces. A parking structure, most likely near McGill and
Renfrew Streets, would be required to retain the current amount of green
space in the Restoration Plan, and provide parking for both the
racetrack and Coliseum events.
Service Yard
A small Park Board service yard will be included in the plan, but
because it can be located in several places, it is not illustrated on
the plan. It is quite likely that all or most of the service yard may be
located in and around the lower level of the Agrodome or the Coliseum.
This issue will be finalised at a later date.
Crime Prevention
Safety in the park is an issue that has been raised many times in the
public discussion. The plan is generally consistent with crime
prevention guidelines, such as having a mix of activities in the park to
ensure that there are enough people using the park at different times of
the day. The racetrack contributes greatly to this by the fact that the
stables are active from the early hours in the morning and that racing
occurs in the afternoon and in the evening. Other small scale activities
will also provide a presence in the park throughout the day.
The Restoration Plan has been reviewed by two crime prevention officers
in the Police Department. Additional work is required when designing
each phase of park development. The Police Department recommends that
patrolling occur as soon as the park is opened.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The capital cost for the park restoration and connection to the
waterfront is about $45 million (in 1997 dollars). Funding will come
from two main sources:
a) $4.5 million allocated in the City's 1994-1996 capital plan; and
b) the rent collected from the racetrack, estimated at about $1.5
million per year, but which fluctuates from year to year, depending
on the total wager. Over the remaining 22 years until the end of
the lease, this amounts to about $33 million (in 1997 dollars).
Additional funding sources will be explored, such as the
Federal/Provincial Infrastructure Program, the Urban Salmon Habitat
Fund, private foundations and corporations.
The park will be built in 4 or 5 phases. Development of the first phase
can proceed in early 1998, once structures that need to be removed are
taken down. About $8 million are available to be spent in the first
phase, which could be completed by the year 2000. The sanctuary,
"Windermere Hill" and the "AllÇe" along Renfrew Street are seen as the
priorities to be considered for the first phase in the Restoration Plan.
A complete park development plan, including costing, will be prepared in
the next six months.
Additional capital cost items could include continuing the stream south
into Hastings Community Park, providing significantly better pedestrian
connections to Vancouver Heights and the neighbourhood west of Renfrew
Street, and the planting of significant trees along Hastings and Renfrew
Streets. Selective items can be chosen amongst this range of projects.
If all were to be chosen, the capital cost would be in the order of
$10-12 million.
The operating cost for the restored Hastings Park is difficult to
calculate at this stage. Queen Elizabeth Park, which has about 20% more
green space than Hastings Park, may offer a benchmark. The cost of
maintaining the green space (excluding the Bloedel Conservatory and
Seasons Restaurant) is about $900,000. This would suggest an operating
budget of about $700,000 for green space at Hastings Park. In addition,
there would be the operating cost associated with the buildings, which
is estimated to be $500,000 for the three renovated buildings and
$250,000 for the Agrodome.
UPCOMING WORK
Once the Hastings Park Restoration Plan is approved, Park Board and the
Hastings Park Working Committee will begin the following work:
- in cooperation with Engineering Services, apply for a federal
infrastructure grant for the storm sewer separation in the
neighbourhood south of Hastings Park and the creation of a
biofiltration area in Hastings Park;
- prepare a building reuse strategy for the Agrodome, the Garden
Auditorium, the Forum and Rollerland by October 1, 1997;
- negotiate with the Pacific Racing Association on the phasing of
barn relocation and associated amendments to their lease, with a
report to be prepared by October 1, 1997;
- prepare a detailed development plan by October 1, 1997, including
phasing and budgeting recommendations for the whole site, and
prepare detailed landscape plans and budget requirements for the
first phase of park restoration;
- coordinate the Hastings Park planning with planning underway in
Hastings Community Park and New Brighton Park, including analysis
of road and railway crossings.
CONCLUSION
This is a landmark year for Hastings Park. The Restoration Plan embodies
the many dreams and aspirations of neighbourhood residents, racetrack
officials, sports groups, arts organizations, and environment advocates.
It is a blueprint for the largest park in the northeast area of the City
- a park that is rewarding for those seeking a quiet nature walk as well
as those seeking active recreation, a park that opens up and integrates
the horse racetrack instead of turning its back to it, a park that
reaches out to link with its neighbouring parks and communities. This
dream becomes reality starting this year.
* * * * *
APPENDIX B
HASTINGS PARK RESTORATION OBJECTIVES
(approved by Council and Board in February 1996)
- Restore the park's stream:
Water will play a major role in Hastings Park. The stream, which existed until 1935, will be "daylighted" and restored as
the central feature in the park.
- Restore the park's natural features:
Native West Coast species of trees, shrubs, grasses and herbs will recreate the feeling of forests and meadows that
dominated the site a century ago.
- Restore a green sanctuary:
Hastings Park will provide a natural and serene setting as one moves toward the centre of the park, with more active uses
on the perimeter of the park.
- Focus community pride:
Hastings Park will become the focus for a strong sense of community pride.
- Connect the park to the neighbourhood:
Hastings Park will be well connected to surrounding residential areas by reducing the barrier effects created by
surrounding streets and highways.
- Connect with adjacent parks:
Significant green links will be created between Hastings Park and New Brighton Park, Hastings Community Park and
Callister Park.
- Integrate active and passive park uses:
The park will incorporate a variety of active uses (sports, arts activities, playgrounds) with passive uses (streams,
forests, gardens, view areas).
- Integrate the old with the new:
Hastings Park will capture the site's rich history, yet distance itself from the past to create something new and
distinct.
- Integrate Racetrack within the park:
The Racetrack will be carefully integrated into the park, with better visual access into and softer edges around the
Racetrack.
- Experiment with new ideas:
Ecological experimentation will be encouraged in Hastings Park. The park's waterbodies will be fed with storm water
collected from the residential area to the south. Storm water cleaning will be achieved through biofiltration.
- Create a safe park:
Hastings Park will be carefully designed to create a strong sense of security for its diverse users.
APPENDIX C
HASTINGS PARK WORKING COMMITTEE
Council created the Hastings Park Working Committee on March 16, 1995 to assist the Park Board with the development of a
Restoration Plan for Hastings Park. There are 12 active members of the Committee:
Ms. Ardell Brophy, Racetrack
Ms. Patricia Coutts, Hastings Resident
Mr. Peter Ellickson, Racetrack
Mr. Bryant McAfee, Racetrack
Ms. Marion Olivieri, Hastings Resident
Mr. Douglas Paterson, Vancouver Resident
Mr. Earle Peach, Environment
Mr. Alan Scales, Arts & Culture
Mr. Rolf Tevely, Sports
Mr. Gerry Underhill, Hastings Resident
Ms. Mariken Van Nimwegen, Hastings Resident
Mr. Timothy Welsh, Hastings Resident
Two additional members, Mr. Greg Antonson and Mr. Steve Varty, represented the PNE employees, but chose not to attend
meetings. One alternate member, Mr. Bruce Wright (Environment), also contributed.
APPENDIX D (page 1 of 4)
SUMMARY OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Working Committee
Since the adoption of the Hastings Park Restoration Program in February 1996, the Hastings Park Working Committee has met
a total of 24 times:
March 11/96 May 13/96 July 30/96 Oct. 29/96 Jan. 21/97
March 18/96 May 15/96 Sept. 4/96 Nov. 13/96 Jan. 29/97
April 9/96 May 29/96 Sept. 10/96 Dec. 2/96 Feb. 6/97
April 22/96 June 11/96 Sept. 24/96 Dec. 9/96 Feb. 19/97
May 6/96 July 15/96 Oct. 15/96 Jan. 7/97
Design Workshop
On June 22/96, a design workshop was organized for participants in the 5 sub-groups (Residents Forum, Racetrack Forum,
Environment Forum, Arts Forum, Sports Forum) involved in the Hastings Park planning to give preliminary feedback on key
design issues raised by the landscape architect. A total of 140 forum members were invited, and 45 attended the
workshop.
Display at PNE
An information display was set up at the 1996 annual fair in the B.C. Pavilion, explaining the objectives of the
restoration of Hastings Park and activities/features to be found in the future park.
Mailout/Distribution of Newsletters
Over 7,500 newsletters were mailed out in November 1996 to all those on the Hastings Park mailing list and to all residents and owners in the V5K district (bounded by Nanaimo, East 1st Avenue, Boundary Road & the waterfront). The
newsletter described the 3 park options being considered and advertised the upcoming Community Conference and Open
Houses.
Newsletters were also distributed to the following locations: Vancouver City Hall, Park Board Offices, Hastings Community
Centre, Hastings Library, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, Thunderbird Community Centre,
Renfrew Community Centre, Trout Lake Community Centre, Britannia Library, Templeton Pool, Franklin Community School,
Eileen Dailly Pool (Burnaby).
Newspaper/Internet Advertising
The Park Board advertised the upcoming Community Conference and the Open Houses in the following newspapers: Vancouver
Courrier, Vancouver Echo, Sing Tao, Ming Pao. The date and location of the events were also advertised on the City s
internet site. A feature story in the Vancouver Sun was written on Hastings Park on page B1 of the November 23/96
edition, including the dates of the events.
APPENDIX D (page 2 of 4)
Community Conference
About 150 attended an all-day conference on November 23/96 in the B.C.
Pavilion at Hastings Park. There was a slide presentation by the
landscape architect in order to explain the common features and the
differences between the 3 options. A questionnaire was handed out to all
participants, and 120 questionnaires were returned.
Meeting in Cantonese
A meeting was held on December 5/96 at Hastings Community Centre in
Cantonese. The newsletter and questionnaire were translated. Over 50
people attended, and 41 questionnaires were filled in.
Open Houses
A number of Open Houses were organized in a variety of locations. A Park
Board staff member is present during these events. Presentation boards,
newsletters and questionnaires were handed out. It is estimated that 700
people attended the Open Houses, with 149 questionnaires being filled
in.
Four one-day Open Houses were held in the Hastings-Sunrise
neighbourhood:
Franklin School (Nov. 27)
Kiwassa Neighbourhood House (Nov. 28)
Hastings Community Centre (Nov. 29)
Hastings Library (Nov. 30)
A two-day Open House was held at the Main Branch of the Public Library
on December 13 and 14.
Public Displays
A number of public diplays were organized so that members of the public
who could not attend one of the designated events could still view the 3
options. Presentation boards and newsletters were available. A Park
Board staff member was not present. Displays were set up at:
Hastings Community Centre, from Dec. 2 to Dec. 9
Vancouver City Hall, from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12
Renfrew Community Centre, from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6
Templeton High School, from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9
Britannia Library, from Jan. 9 to Jan. 16
Templeton High School, from Jan. 16 to Jan. 28
Vancouver City Hall, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5
Templeton High School, from Feb. 6 to Feb 12
Hastings Community Centre, from Feb. 13 to Feb. 27
Templeton High School
Park Board staff presented the 3 park options to about 1,000 students,
from Feb. 6 to Feb. 12. Questionnaires were handed out to all, and 40
were returned by Feb. 25.
APPENDIX D (page 3 of 4)
RESULTS FROM QUESTIONNAIRES
It is estimated that at these events, close to 1,200 questionnaires were
handed out at the following events:
Community Conference (November 23, 1996)
Meeting in Cantonese (December 5, 1996)
Open Houses in Neighbourhood (Nov. 27-30 & Dec. 2-9, 1996)
Open Houses at City Hall & Main Library (Dec. 10-14, 1996)
Presentations at Templeton High School (Feb. 6-12, 1997)
A total of 354 questionnaires were returned.
Which park option do you like?
TOTAL
OPTION 1 107 (30%)
OPTION 2 34 (10%)
OPTION 3 170 (48%)
OTHER 43 (12%)
TOTAL 354
Note: The Park Board also received 7 letters/e-mails. One favoured
Option 1, five favoured Option 3, and one favoured combining
Options 1 and 3.
Note: Other includes all responses that didn t indicate option 1,
2 or 3, including combination of options and no response .
Which AllÇe option do you like?
TOTAL
OPTION 1 114
No Forum (32%)
No Rollerland
OPTION 2 or 3 183
With Forum & (52%)
Rollerland
OTHER 57 (16%)
TOTAL 354
Which playfields option do you like?
TOTAL
OPTION 1 100
along Renfrew (28%)
OPTION 2 or 3 166
Empire Bowl (47%)
OTHER 88 (25%)
TOTAL 354
APPENDIX D (page 4 of 4)
Which connection do you like
across Hastings Street?
TOTAL
IMPROVED 47 (17%)
CROSSWALKS
CROSSWALKS 154
& HASTINGS (56%)
BRIDGE
OTHER 72 (26%)
TOTAL 273
Which connection do you like
across the Cassiar Connector?
TOTAL
IMPROVED 49 (18%)
CROSSWALK
CROSSWALK 134
& PANDORA (50%)
BRIDGE
OTHER 90 (33%)
TOTAL 273
Which connection do you like
across McGill Street?
TOTAL
WESTERLY & 88 (28%)
EASTERLY
OVERPASSES
USE EXISTING 34 (11%)
TUNNELS
CENTRAL 116
OVERPASS (37%)
OTHER 75 (24%)
TOTAL 306
Which parking option do you like?
TOTAL
ALL SURFACE 108
(34%)
PARKING 115
STRUCTURE (37%)
OTHER 91 (29%)
TOTAL 314