Exciting Upgrades Infuse New Life into Historic Victoria Park
Official Opening Saturday, September 6th

August 29, 2008 (No. 50) - The public is invited to the official reopening of Victoria Park located in the vibrant Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood. The celebration will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, cake, refreshments, entertainment and activities for children. Some event highlights include Theatre for Literacy Performances and Storytelling by Tickle Trunk Players; puppet making workshops and Jimmy Just Jackman performing on his ukulele and creating balloon creations for the kids. Local daycamp leaders will be facilitating games from Equitas's "Play it Fair" Toolkit. The Toolkit helps to promote human rights, non-discrimination and peaceful conflict resolution within non-formal education programs for children.

1pm to 4pm
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Victoria Park
(Victoria Drive at Kitchener Street)

The design for the $625,000 upgrade to the .9 hectare park, developed in consultation with the community, boasts many innovative features. Upgrades make the park more accessible as well as better serving residents of all ages and interests. Many of the improvements are readily evident-welcoming new entrances, pathways and lighting make the park open and inviting. An important draw for local families is the new children's play area, which includes a water play feature constructed of natural materials. New picnic tables and benches were installed and the old washrooms were expanded to make them fully accessible. Some of the interesting details of the project are less evident. The rebuilt bocce courts, a popular amenity with local residents, incorporate retaining walls made of compressed plastic from recycled cars (all the "leftovers" that might otherwise end up in a landfill).

An artsy drinking fountain was designed by Park Board staff and built from recycled granite curbing by City employees. A one-of-a-kind doggie fountain, evocative of stones found in a Japanese garden, was fashioned from natural rocks that were dug up during street work by City crews. The new pathways have been thoughtfully designed of crushed stone and combined with a new stabilizing medium to make travel easier on wheelchairs and strollers. The cobbles edging the pathways were recently quarried from Hardy Island, historically used as a local source for quarried stone. New trees are being added to the playground for shade and three magnolias will be planted to add colour and interest to this popular neighbourhood gathering place. The park design was done by Park Board Designer David Yurkovich and the contractor was Cap Ventures Ltd.

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For more information contact Carol DeFina, Communications Coordinator, at 604-257-8440.
www.vancouverparks.ca

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 220 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.