ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: March 4, 1999

Author/Local: Kate DJ/8471

RTS No. 000523
CC File No. 4151

Council: March 30, 1999

TO: Vancouver City Council

FROM: General Manager of Parks and Recreation

SUBJECT: Bosa Neighbourhood Funded Developments

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve the expenditure of $62,000, (including GST and staff time) from the Bosa Development Fund to install a relocatable playground in Creekside Park.

COUNCIL POLICY

Expenditure of the Bosa Funds for park improvements in the same neighbourhood requires Council approval.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s approval to use $62,000 from the Bosa Fund to provide a relocatable playground in Creekside Park (see attached plan).

BACKGROUND

A request from Citygate, Strathcona, Mount Pleasant and Ray Cam resident representatives received on October 21, 1998 recommended using money for play equipment and its installation from the Bosa Fund (see Attachment #1; letter from community representative). The area neighbourhood is deficient of playgrounds at the present time until the remainder of Creekside Park is built.

The Bosa Fund originally was $6.1 million. The acquisition of a portion of land at 8th & Fraser Street parksite used $177,800 and $5.3 million was expended on the BNR Park site, also known as Trillium Parksite. There is a remaining unallocated balance of $610,838. At one time $400,000 was indicated to be potentially available for construction of a gymnasium at Vancouver Community College. The project is no longer proceeding. Therefore, the $610,838 is still available.

DISCUSSION

Staff have received three quotes for a complete playground installation and the lowest tender includes play equipment for toddlers and juniors as well as resilient surfacing. The community representatives’ letter points out that while the development of the remainder of Creekside Park may be many years off, the children require a nearby place to play. The Bosa Fund is payment in lieu for park space in this neighbourhood. The playground will have the ability to be relocated into a permanent area when the remainder of Creekside park is built in the future. The remainder of the park will include a formal green space, terracing leading up to a fountain, pedestrian walks and seating to overlook False Creek and a children’s play area into which this play equipment will be relocated.

The Park Board approved the recommendation of this report at the Board meeting on February 22, 1999.

CONCLUSION

The neighbourhood reviewed the three proposals presented to them by Park Board staff and approved the lowest bid (see approval letter, Attachment #2). The total cost of $62,000 is recommended to be released from the Bosa Fund to finance the installation of the playground. The playground’s design allows it to be relocated when the second phase of the park is completed.

Release of $62,000 from the Bosa development fund will allow installation of a play area at Creekside Park this Spring.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver