Many have expressed desire for the Garden City Lands to become a world class park like Stanley Park or New York's Central Park. Both these parks' evolution took more than 100 years.
Stanley Park is 125 years old this year, and sports and recreation have been integral since the very beginning, with organized cricket being played there over 120 years ago, and the Brockton Clubhouse opening in 1927. Sports in Stanley Park include: cricket, rugby, track and field, lawn bowling, tennis, and rowing. There are many active sports clubs.
Recreationally, there is also the Second Beach pool; jogging, rollerblading, cycling and walking on the seawall; softball, pitch and putt golf, and yachting.
Stanley Park's success is based on showcasing its natural beauty, and adding some sports facilities, attractions, and arts and cultural elements to attract a diverse range of supporters and users.
New York's 150-year-old Central Park has most of Stanley Park's sports, arts and cultural features, and also has handball, winter skating, basketball, and bridle paths. Central Park has pedicabs, playgrounds, a bakery, a dairy, a zoo, a carousel, cafes and a gift shop.
Richmond's City Centre currently has twice Steveston's population and is growing 4,000 people annually. Minoru Park is now busy most of the time and with the downtown population set to double in the next few decades, another large space is needed to satisfy the future passive park, recreation and conservation needs of central Richmond and all Richmond residents.
The 136-acre Garden City Lands are much larger than Minoru Park so they can satisfy urban large park needs, and the transition to a more rural park and community garden park, and as gateway to the relatively undisturbed 136 acre adjoining National Defense lands and 201 acre Richmond Nature Park.
Both Stanley Park and Central Park are renowned because they offer something for everyone, from sports to recreation to arts and culture to beautiful calm quiet places to walk or meet people.
These parks took many diverse groups of people's efforts to evolve into great parks for both residents and visitors. We should also take our time and enlist the widest community input possible in planning for the Garden City Lands future.
Peter Mitchell Richmond
