We’d answered the doorbell, and a pleasant woman greeted us, but what she had to say was alarming.
“Something’s happened at the playground! They’re taking it away — the benches too!”
Our Rideau Park neighbourhood was suddenly up in arms.
Years earlier, our neighbourhood school had become an adult learning centre, which also hosts a popular after-school Mandarin program for six to nine-year-olds. The park playground, that local people had funded, kept doing its job. However, when school district staff decided the playground was worn out, they didn’t consult us.
So far, the only silver lining is that the dissonance may make the school district and city more mindful when other schools are closed. A combined city/school park in the core of a Richmond neighbourhood is not to be dismissed lightly.
In our case, all cultures and ages have always come together at the playground. There would be parents and grandparents with kids. Elderly people liked to sit on the park benches, enjoying the treed setting and cheerful activity. Friendly dogs and their humans dropped by.
We want that back.
School trustees seemed to get the message when more than 20 residents attended an October board meeting. Long-time resident Rick Townsend presented the playground story. Others, including an eloquent seven-year-old, filled it out. A response is due soon.
Last week, Coun. Chak Au, who had talked with locals at the playground site, added the issue to the city’s parks committee agenda. I spoke about it at the parks meeting in the context of another agenda item, Richmond’s community wellness strategy. There was a healthy discussion and it was determined that staff would follow up and report back.
At this point, it seems the school district will refurbish the old park benches and return them but won’t replace the playground equipment. The city could put in a play structure, although the natural place for it is on school district land, where the old playground was.
This situation cries out for thoughtful cooperation, and that’s where the community wellness strategy comes in. The strategy requires the city and school district, along with Vancouver Coastal Health, to work together to foster physical, mental and social wellness. The playground, which has a cherished role in our wellness, is a perfect place to put that strategy into effect.
With school closures looming, bigger challenges will arise. Imagine if the school board tried to sell its share of a city/school neighbourhood park for development.
Whatever happens, neighbourhoods must thrive. A restored Rideau Park playground is a great place to start.
Jim Wright is president of the Garden City Conservation Society
