Issues & Concerns

Purpose:

To discuss ideas and options for improving Whispering Firs Park.

​

Rationale:

Whispering Firs Park is a mess. The grounds are soggy in the wet season and lumpy in the dry season. The playground is sparse and dated. The trails are rough and have tripping hazards. The forest is full of debris close to the fence lines of homes on Oceanview Drive.

​

Goal:

To create a proposal by November 30th. 2024 for SCRD Parks Department to consider renovations, improvements, repairs and remediation to the park for Woodcreek residents to cater to all age groups and the community at large.

 

Process:

Initial meeting – October 17/24 - 13 attendees

• Listen to Garfield Pennington discuss better ways to create a play space for children

  • I am a life-long advocate and activist for the child's right to play. I work with schools and community groups to bring about cultural change and renewal. My opus is the Childhood Play Memories Project  As an octogenarian, I can think of no better things to be doing. Perhaps we need to listen more to our elders just as our First Nations friends tell us to do.

• collect ideas about what people would like to see in a redevelopment of Whispering Firs Park

• consider pros and cons

​​

Initial Report to Neighbourhood: Oct 24/24

• Inform neighbours of the list of ideas generated

• Solicit further ideas – deadline Nov 4/24

 

Second Meeting- Nov 7/24 (TBD)

• Review suggestions

• Delve deeper into pros and cons

• Select top three choices

• Consider costs/ability and willingness to help

 

Second Report to Neighbourhood – Nov 9/24

• Create and distribute a survey (both online and hard copy)

• Request selection of top 2 suggestions – deadline Nov 14/24

 

Final Report to SCRD

• Write report

• Have Claire edit it – Nov 16/24

• Submit draft to participating neighbours with one week to comment (deadline Nov 22/24)

• Deliver report to SCRD – Nov 25/24

 

Report to Vancouver Foundation:

• Prepare financial statement – Nov 22/24

• Write and submit report – deadline Nov 28

​

RESULTS OF INITIAL MEETING – October 17/24

Park Issues as identified:

The following is a list of problems and issues we identified at our first meeting. We ask you to add to this list if you know of any other concerns.

• Wet, soggy grass area,

• Very limited play equipment at least 35 years old

• Nothing to appeal to kids past toddler-level

• Sub-standard outhouse – dirty, hidden in an area difficult to see; no signage

• Debris (wildfire fuel) in forest close to fences – should be remediated by FireSmart

• Exposed roots on trail; heavy shade due to too many trees

• Sprinklers under area covered in sand

• Parking lot is too large; never full except for “park & ride” and visitors to the cidery across the highway

• Area has become a drug drop; drinking spot due to low numbers of park users

• Very dangerous for pedestrians to cross the highway to access or leave the park

• Dangerous left turn from the park for drivers heading west

• Drive into park is full of potholes

 

Suggestions – not vetted:

We listed all ideas from the group in attendance without considering or negating anyone’s suggestions. We then very briefly and at a high level started to vet a few suggestions to get the feel for what direction we should head. Now we share this with the neighbourhood to elicit more suggestions and for people to contribute their thoughts for and against each of these issues.

​

Suggestions:

1. Fenced court:

Pros

• By building a court close to the HWY we can apply to lower the speed & apply for safe highway crossing

• Fenced area can by used by little kids on bikes, roller skates

• Area can be used for several activities such as road hockey, shooting hoops, etc.

Cons

• It will pave over park space;

• potential to be overused (i.e., too many people at the park

a. Pickleball court

​Pros

• smaller than a Tennis Court and since it would be near the highway, noise from players isn’t really a factor

• maybe the court can be where the outhouse is

Cons

• Noisy

• Might attract too many people from outside neighbourhood

b. Basketball court

Pros

• There are a lot of BB players of all ages on the Coast.

• Would get teens outside

c. Tennis court

​Pros

Cons

• Sufficient courts nearby

• Road hockey

• Keeps kids off street

​​

2. Bike path to extend to RC & Gibsons

Pros

• Safer for people than the highway

Cons

• Encroaches on private property

​​

3. Fitness / Activity circuit:

Pros

• Cedar chips can be used under equipment

Cons

• Liability

• Area is very wet

a. Monkey bars

Pros

Cons

b. Climbing equipment

Pros

Cons

c. Climbing wall

Pros

Cons

d. Zipline

Pros

Cons

e. Sand box

Pros

Cons

f. Disc golf/Frisbee

Pros

Cons

g. Horseshoe pitch

Pros

Cons

h. Beach volleyball

Pros

Cons

i. Rope swing/ tire swing

Pros

Cons

​

4. Updated playground equipment

Pros

• More interesting activities for children, appealing to a greater age range

Cons

​

5. Paths improvement

Pros

Cons​

a. ​bike riding

Pros

Cons

b. Kids mountain bike trail

Pros

Cons

c. Accessible pathways – e.g. crusher dust

Pros

• Better for those using wheelchairs or pushing strollers

Cons​

​

6. Update Memory Garden

Pros

Cons

 a. add a bench; create a quiet place

Pros

Cons

 b. walkway

Pros

Cons

​

7. Create a Fairy Garden with little animals

Pros

Cons

 

8. Add swallow/bat houses; create a habitat for wildlife, including amphibians

Pros

Cons

 

9. Increase size or covered picnic area

Pros

Cons

​

10. Restore natural swampy area

Pros

• Good for the environment

Cons​