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Garry Point Park pilings: Use them or lose them, says Coun. Steves

Coun. Harold Steves is pressing the City of Richmond’s parks planners to come up with a viable solution for a row of 12 steel pilings sitting off the shore of Garry Point Park.
Garry Point pilings
Garry Point Park pilings. Tumblr image

Coun. Harold Steves is pressing the City of Richmond’s parks planners to come up with a viable solution for a row of 12 steel pilings sitting off the shore of Garry Point Park.

“Effectively, I’ve challenged staff, and said that, if you don’t have a use for them, then why are they there?” Steves told the Richmond News.

Steves has opposed the dozen, “ugly” steel pilings since they were installed in 2010. However, he does not oppose the idea of a dock or pier at the same location, noting when a temporary dock was placed there, alongside the pilings, residents made good use of it.

Steves said he hasn’t heard back from planners as to what will become of the pilings.

Last month, Steves asked city staff to report back on the costs of removing the pilings, if there is no long term use for them.

“I’ve got a dialogue going back and forth with staff,” he said.

The pilings’ fate may become clearer following Richmond’s Canada 150 celebrations in 2017. As part of those celebrations, the city procured the Japanese tall ship Kaiwo Maru for a visit in May. The Kaiwo Maru will berth at Garry Point Park, courtesy of a temporary, floating dock attached to the pilings.

Meantime, Steves said he sees no problem putting the Kaiwo Maru at the No. 3 Road Pier, should planners have no long term use for the pilings.

Another factor at play is the city’s review of the Garry Point Master Plan, expected to be presented to city council next year. The existing plan shows the park to be divided into three zones: natural, natural maintained and commercial. The old plan envisions many things that have yet to come to fruition, such as an interpretive marine centre, a two-storey restaurant, a playground and a permanent pier on the eastern side of the park. 

Last December, a petition at GoPetition.com was formed to “Secure Garry Point Park as the Natural Jewel We Cherish.” It quickly garnered hundreds of signatures, but has since tailed off at 990.