The Steveston Historical Society responded to concerns about tree removal in a small but cherished park on Moncton Street next to the Steveston Post Office.
Steveston Town Square Park is in the midst of being redeveloped to incorporate a Japanese garden featuring a garden ornament known as a suikinkutsu.
But some residents have voiced concern about changes to the park, including trees being cut down.
The society suggests, via its website, that four trees were removed: one large tree at the front, as well as a cherry, apple and maple tree in the back.
The society notes, via the City of Richmond arborist report, the large tree was found to be in “poor condition;” the apple and cherry trees had “suppressed growth” and were also found to be in “poor condition,” while the cherry tree was also “susceptible” to a beetle infestation; and the maple tree would not have survived the redevelopment (grade change).
While the trees had stood for decades the redevelopment was an apparent opportunity by city arborists to assess their health.
“During the process of implementing the plan for this project, the trees on site were assessed and it was determined most were in poor health and/or posed a safety hazard,” noted City of Richmond spokesperson Ted Townsend.
The society also addressed how the park redevelopment came to be.
“The rebuilding of the garden has been done in conjunction with the Steveston Historical Society Building Committee, City Staff and Japanese Master Gardeners.”
Unlike other recent park redevelopments, such as Lang Park — a small park in City Centre — the town square park never had public consultation.
Townsend said the town square park plan was a minor project.
Loren Slye, president of the society, said the redevelopment was a result of the recent renovation of the Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Society building adjacent to the park.
He said the three aforementioned groups decided a Japanese garden was befitting of the park.
He noted the English rose garden and picket fence along Moncton will remain, to compliment the post office, while the back of the park will feature the suikinkutsu — a special Japanese ornament that drips water to create sound — to compliment the Japanese building. The society noted Coun. Bill McNulty procured the ornament on a council-related trip to Japan.
Slye said he received a few concerns from the public about the trees but those were put to rest when the condition of the trees was explained.
Meanwhile some letters were written to the Richmond News concerning the trees. Furthermore, former president of the Richmond Heritage Commission, Kathleen Beaumont, a retired UBC planner, questioned the decision making process of the redevelopment.
The town square park’s redevelopment concept plan was approved by Richmond city council last June. Townsend said the public had an opportunity to speak to the plan at that time.
The plan presented to council showed a landscape architect’s overlay of the park. There was no mention of an arborist report in the report to council. Months later the city went ahead with the tree removal.
Beaumont stated the process was "barrelled through" council.
The small park is a popular shaded area in the summer. It features a stone dog dish commemorating ‘Big Red,’ a friendly canine who wondered the streets of Steveston.
