© the other press ¢ Features March 3, 2004 continued from page 19 (Eastside neighbourhoods) had only six percent of youth participate in organized soccer. Less then ten per- cent for the entire Eastside, as com- pared to more than 20 percent youth participation level in the west. We can assume that the numbers are similar with adult sports. With such a contrast in participation levels, you would think that there would be more sports fields in the western areas of Vancouver, but this is not the case. Of all the locations short- listed for artificial-turf fields, both — in the east and west, the Parks Board is determined to build the first of six fields at Trillium. Nét long ago, I met a man named Albert who is the un-official caretak- er of Trillium. I saw Albert hauling loads of garbage and glass in wheel- barrows to the south end for the Parks Board to pick up. Albert has been watching over this land for 11 years now. He told me that many people have made this land their home. Some have lived in Trillium for over a year at a time, making mansions out of leaves, branches, plastic, and shopping carts. Eventually the Parks Board hauls the shelters away and the residence leave or come back to start again. Albert told me about a boat builder who used a wagon out of broken pallet boards to cart wood scrap from around the city to Trillium. He arranged each size and type of wood into piles and began to build what he called “an arch.” He started building the frame of what looked to be a massive boat. Eventually it tendency of communities to use land and open space without bor- ders or signs or official support. On a map of Vancouver, Trillium is an empty lot on some of the most expensive square footage in Canada, but it=-sall remains. a place to escape the pressures of urban life. It is a green way and a home, and despite what the urban planners and Parks Board officials view it as, it is already being put to good community use. In 1996, the Parks Board con- tracted the Apra Research Group to conduct a programming study in Strathcona to determine what to do with Trillium (contact the Vancouver Parks Board or visit to find out more info). It took near- ly three years to complete and cost $50,000. One of the questions on the survey was “What things would you like to see included in the new park on the Trillium site?” Twenty- six percent of the respondents rec- ommended benches and seating for socializing. Twenty-three percent said they wanted ponds/water fea- ture. Twenty percent wanted garden plots. Less then ten percent made reference to sport facilities. In the conclusion of the report it was writ- ten “use the north end of the park for children, seniors, and the neigh- bourhood. Use the south end for playing fields and parking.” Trillium is 7.5 acres. Two sports fields would account for 85 percent of the park, leaving 15 percent to play area, passive specifically for the community, would be hijacked for the near- exclusive use of others. Trillium is in danger of becoming one more exam- ple of wealthier parts of Vancouver was a lot of talk about “Translucent” process. The Eastside with a Chinese population of 39.9 percent, and the only Chinese person present was the recorder. Sitting in the corner of the November-January, and cost $5,000. A huge contrast to the Strathcona survey which cost ten times as much and took two years to consult fewer than 16, 000 people. Many people have made this land their home. Some have lived in Trillium for over a year at a time, making mansions out of leaves, branches, plastic, and shopping carts. running roughshod over the needs and desires of East Vancouver. A few months ago, the Parks Board staff drafted up a new consul- tation process to determine where to locate the artificial turf fields, specif- ‘ically targeting Trillium. When con- venient, the Parks Board often con- siders all of Vancouver one commu-- nity, therefore decisions that need to be made about specific neighbour- hoods can be made by all 450, 000 Vancouverites. On September 8, 2003, the Parks Board held a public meeting announcing the plan. The 2003-2005 Capital Plan includes an allocation of $2.9 million for the development of two synthetic turf pitches. The Parks Board staff is cur- rently proposing that 50 percent of the funds be allocated to the con- struction of one artificial field and As green space is diminished in Vancouver and around the world, we lose understanding of our relationship with the natural world and how we affect that environment on a daily basis. was ripped apart and hauled away. The Parks Board claimed it was a fire hazard. I asked Albert what he wants done with land. He said, “It may be self- ish, but I want the Parks Board to fight with the community for anoth- er twenty years so I can continue my work here.” Albert represents the ME Pane 20 - grass, and roads and maintenance buildings. That 85 percent would apply to a specific group of people: amateur sports teams, the vast majority of which coming from the West End, the North Shore and as far away as Burnaby and other sub- urbs. Thus, a very key and centrally located Eastside resource, purchased http://www.otherpress.ca one gravel field (later to be trans- formed into turf) at Trillium. I attended the meeting as a citi- zen. The perfume stunk up the room like a funeral for a very old person. All the heads were white. Everyone questioned my being there—it was obvious I reeked of purpose. It made me nervous. There room, she was motionless, her fea- tures hard, recording every word, un-judging, un-biased, straightfor- ward, translucent. A barrage of sports advocates came to speak to the council nearly weeping that, “The children can’t even play because there isn’t enough room.” “Here, Here,” echoed from the back of the room. Jim Mackenzie, president of the Vancouver Field Sports Federation, claimed that women and children are not getting equal playing time because of the lack of fields, NOT because the male-dominated user group does not share the already existing fields. A man from the BC Volleyball Association claimed that “We were told that when we let them have Strathcona for the gar- dens, we would get Trillium.” The Environmental Youth Alliance spoke to council stating that the process was not a proper consulta- tion process because the information being fed to the public was biased, misleading, and in obvious support of an artificial turf development at Trillium. The first member of council to speak was Suzanne Anton, a sports enthusiast and a resident of one of Vancouver most wealthy neighbour- hoods. “I want to start by saying, these fields are beautiful. Parents out there, I suggest you go see these fields...you'll simply be drooling over them. They are gorgeous.” The next day Anton was in the Vancouver Sun, lying playfully on Astroturf practically having an orgasm over the bright green rubber. The new city-wide consultation process is being conducted by the Parks Board staff, will consult 450,000 Vancouver resident over the course of three months, This time, the Parks Board has been addressing some of the following components, which were first on the list of many: outline the benefits of field sports for individual partici- pants and the community at large; outline the benefits of artificial-turf fields; present the rationales for increasing the supply of playing fields; and ask the participants where they would like to see these fields. The Parks Board will then take the information and make “rec- ommendations” of where the fields should be placed. Regardless of the response they may get, the Parks Boars” objective is obvious: to undermine the explic- it and documented wishes of a small community to satisfy the needs of other, more prosperous neighbour- hoods and the demands of sports federations. The reality is that the Eastside of Vancouver needs, wants, and deserves the Trillium site to be left as parkland. The neighbourhood surrounding Trillium has been speaking to this for over ten years and has never swayed from the belief that artificial turf fields do not belong in a neigh- bourhood where few will utilize them, that these fields should be built in other neighbourhoods where people want and need them. If you live in Vancouver, the Parks Board may be knocking at your door. My dad told me on the phone last night “If the law is not on your side, pound the facts. If the facts are not on your side, pound the law. If neither are on your side, pound the table.” So when the Vancouver Parks Board comes knocking on your door asking about the Trillium site, pound the table and tell ’em where they can put their Astroturf.