ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: March 4, 1999
Author/Local: Kate DJ/8471
RTS No. 000523
CC File No. 4151Council: 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 Councils 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 childrens 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 playgrounds 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