The Editor,
Re: "Groups jockey for Garden City position," News, Oct. 19.
Such a great opportunity for Richmond residents only arrives once a generation, and it takes a generation or more to properly achieve the best result, so great care must be taken with each such opportunity.
Richmond's population is projected to increase 80,000 by 2041 with the vast majority of new residents moving downtown in the city centre area.
The Garden City Lands will likely be the largest community area in Richmond, and it is within walking distance of city centre and our rapid transit.
City centre residents will depend heavily on the Garden City Lands for much of their park, recreation and open space needs, and the lands will also attract residents and visitors from other areas.
The Garden City Lands are as large as Minoru Park and Terra Nova Rural Park combined. They are as large as Vancouver's PNE grounds and Hastings Racetrack combined; as large as Queen Elizabeth Park and adjacent Riley Park combined.
Richmond needs to take everything learned at every prior park and community centre, then consult extensively with the public, and ensure the result is better than everything done previously.
The Garden City Lands are large enough to bring together all facets of the community, and time and care must be taken in their planning to ensure that they do so.
Peter Mitchell Richmond
