Results from Comment Card
(responses from on-line survey and paper postcards combined)
Question #1: Which of the sites listed below would you like to comment on? (120 responses)
60%
51%
50%
40%
34%
30%
20%
15%
10%
0%
A block of 72nd Ave
(at Ebisu Park)
The south end of
Shaughnessy St (at
Shaughnessy Park)
Both sites
n=120
Question #3: If the south end of Shaughnessy St. was converted into a park, I think:
(46 responses)
80%
70%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
15%
15%
10%
0%
This would be
a good idea...
I have some concerns...
n=46
I'm not sure...
Shaughnessy Park Expansion (south end of Shaughnessy St)
If in the future, the south end of Shaughnessy St. was a park and it was designed entirely to your satisfaction, what would you like to be doing
in this new park space?
• To cut possible break-ins at night, please install street lights.
• Design the park with picnic tables and benches along the riverside, shade trees, a no-dog area.
• Off leash dog park.
• Accessing a continuous walkway along the riverfront. It would be good to be able to walk to the
Angus lands .
• I happen to like Shaughnessy Park as it is - a hidden gem in the neighbourhood. When the triangle
middle park (on 73rd.) is crowded in the summer, this is a lovely somewhat undeveloped park for a
quieter picnic. The street end should be added to the park - allowing residents more immediate access
to the river.
• Walking and picnicking.
• BBQ area with benches, gazebo perhaps connecting it with river walk like multi use path to Fraser
River Park to the west, and all the way to Cambie Bridge (Skytrain) to the east would make a perfect
new greenway/walk/bike route in Vancouver?
• Riding bicycle along the Fraser River if something can be built along the river, similar to Richmond's
bicycle lane along River Road.
• I would like to tie this in with City of Vancouver's 2012 updated initiative to create more neighbourhood based off-leash dog parks. Right now the Marpole area has zero off-leash dog park areas that are
community based. There is only 1 destination off-leash dog park down at the Fraser River Park area
which is not even remotely in the centre of Marpole! And most people must drive there...
• I would like to meet with my dog owner neighbours where we could play with our dogs off-leash all
year round and not have to worry about them getting hit by cars or running into children or other
non-dog owners. I would like to be able to sit on a covered bench and be able to use a functioning
bathroom all year round as well as have access to running clean water for my dog all year round. I
would also like a safe sidewalk to walk on to get there. The last time I walked there with my dog, I
found that I had to share the road with trucks. Also when I was there, it seems that the place had been
used by destructive juveniles. Lights were broken and drug paraphernalia was on the tables under the
covered area.
• Having a picnic near the river with my friends
• Biking or walking past, attending riverside events.
• Green space, trees, boardwalks, similar to Fraser River Park. Also essential is a river foot path which
would eventually connect to Fraser River Park and continue on in a westerly direction with a board
walk around the Marine Drive Golf course which currently blocks the path. The boardwalk around the
Marine Drive Golf course should take priority over all other park considerations, because we have
worked and waited so long for this, and because it would cost only a small part of the funds being
slated for the other two parks.
• Green space and boardwalks similar to Fraser River Park, with a waterfront path which could
eventually join up with the Fraser River Park and continue on West.
• In this park space I would like to bring my children to play on swings and enjoy the playground. I
would like to be able to cycle through the area and walk through the park. I would also like to have
barbeques overlooking the water and picnics with family.
• This would be a great place for off leash, more courts or team sports for all ages.
• In addition to the volleyball court in the present site, perhaps the space can be divided up between
volleyball court and a skate park.
• Major events could be held in the park instead of on the streets. I would like to see different interest
groups meet in the park such as Tai Chi or sword dance.
• Enjoying a river front park mostly removed from traffic and cars.
• Family friendly streetscaping
• A new grass soccer field for all ages. Goals with netting & a water run off irrigation system since we get
so much rain.
• Walking along the river side and having Shaughnessy Park as a mid-point or end-point destination.
Increasing safety measures in the area in any way possible would make this park more attractive as it's
currently set in an industrial park. I played volleyball with friends on the sand courts many times and I
think it's a great feature of this space - please keep this intact!
• Having a quiet picnic lunch under the trees, reading and resting. Could there be a bike lane all around
it so kids could have a safe place to ride their bikes? Could there be a long line of bike racks there for
people to safely park bikes? That would encourage me to get a bike.
• Bike lane needed around park, also a walkway to Fraser River Park.
• Benches and picnic tables. Also, a barbecue area would be great (not sure if it already has one) so that
people can play volleyball and eat there and spend some time down there.
• Good idea, I agree with your plan.
• Picnic tables and benches along the river side, shade trees, a no dog area.
• Good idea, I agree with your plan.
• If the park is by the Fraser River, it would be nice to walk along the river.
Shaughnessy Park Expansion (south end of Shaughnessy St)
If in the future, the south end of Shaughnessy St. was a park and it was designed entirely to your satisfaction, what would you like to be doing
in this new park space?
• If I could dream about this possible park expansion ---- I would like to feel more connected to the
water when visiting - to have a way to get out over the water. This would mean a reasonably sized pier
with a floating section that could rise and fall with the tide to provide accessibility for walkers and
those using kayaks and canoes. I'm really hoping that Shaughnessy Park is part of a grander plan to
expand/create linked parkland all along this section of the river so that residents will be able to go for
long walks as much along the river as possible. (The lovely trail/park in front of the TransLink terminal
is beautiful but since it's a dead-end it often feels unsafe.) This park is just a stone's throw from all the
undeveloped land by the Skytrain bridge. Any plans to build a park along the river there? It would be
so wonderful to have all these pieces of park linked together.
• Prime water front location. Sure, take away the street access. Allow some sort of parking by restricting
street parking to three hours.
• I would like to enjoy a natural habitat on the Fraser River. Somewhere to sit and be connected to
nature.
• Picnic facilities/shelter/Tai Chi space/children playground
• Water park
• It is a very secluded area, and though I'm living in Marpole for more than 5 years I have never been
there. I am not sure it is used that often by Marpole residents, and extending it a little will not change i
it. I would think if the majority of the industrial ugliness in that area is converted to park then it would
be valuable; otherwise it's a waste of resources. And I know that industrial ugliness is someone's big
money, so it's going to stay there for now.
• Picnicking with friends and watching the river.
Shaughnessy Park Expansion (south end of Shaughnessy St)
I think:
converting the south end of Shaughnessy St. into a park is a good idea because....
I have some concerns about conveting the south end of Shaughnessy St. into a park because….
I’m not sure how I feel about this idea because…
• It would give the workers in the area a place to enjoy their coffee and lunch breaks.
• Not a residential area.
• We need more park space.
• It would be a link in a larger plan to make the river accessible to pedestrians.
• I want to see the RAW results of this survey.
• I hope the park will be big !!
• We need more meaningful park space.
• It’s next to the Fraser River, it will be nice to have the park area along the river rather than a street, and the conversion will
have minimum impact on local traffic.
• It is a quiet area, has no real vehicle traffic after business hours and is walkable for people who live in the south part of
Marpole. As it is an isolated area with very little vehicle traffic and not defined by streets, this would be an ideal place to
transform into an off-lease dog park and would not interfere with activities that normally take place in other public parks.
• That is the end of the street.
• My dog Stella needs a safe place to play off-leash without being in a playground. Because there is going to be an
increase of population due to new construction at the Safeway site on Granville as well as the development at Cambie
and SW Marine and the development of the Cambie Corridor. This influx of new residents is going to include more dogs as
well as children with nowhere to go, especially dogs.
• Less concrete and asphalt near the river will make for a more natural city.
• Because it will expand the size and use of the current park. It is an ideal location for riverside activities and designs. For
example, it could provide places for people to stop and rest and view the river while walking or biking along the river, or it
could be a location for events that are related to the river.
• It is essential to have some river front parks. While we recognize the need for some industrial sites on the river front, some
ludicrous decisions have been made in the past such as building a bus transit station on prime riverfront land! We have
the gift of a beautiful and interesting river which needs to be enjoyed and protected, and apart from the installation of
Fraser River Park which is really quite small and mainly for dogs (!!!!),nothing has been done to make our river accessible
and enjoyable for a neighbourhood which is likely to see a huge influx of new residents around the Canada Line Station.
• We have the gift of a beautiful and interesting river which has not been appreciated so far. We recognize the need for
some industrial land but some ludicrous mistakes have been made in the past such as building a transit station on prime
waterfront property! Apart from Fraser River Park which is not large and primarily for dogs (!!!) nothing has been done to
make our river front accessible and pleasant for everyone to enjoy. Even the Fraser River Park footpath is totally blocked
by Marine Drive Golf course, and before more parks are created, a portion of the money should be spent immediately on
building a boardwalk around the golf course.
• It will give me and my family more places to enjoy this area of the city. I already use the small space there and if it were
expanded it would be even better. I like the idea of upgrading this area.
• The density proposed for the end of Cambie Street (gateway) does not have any appropriate play space for the many
children that could be living there. It is almost as though the city has forgotten that people who live in a "family space" all
of 800 square feet might actually have children! Where can they go to play and where, as they get older, will they "hang
out" to enjoy basketball, roller hockey, tennis etc. The whole recreation piece and the densification of the corridor has not
been well thought out AT ALL!
• It is a dead-end street anyway.
• There is no skate park in the neighborhood that I am aware of.
• Creating a healthy and friendly environment for the people living in this area.
• It reallocates public space to all people for positive interaction, rather than to people encased in cars.
•There is currently not enough picnic space at this park.
• The area needs a non-industrial waterfront.
• There seems to be little benefit in this space being dedicated to other uses.
• It is much needed for our youth to have a soccer field to keep busy and out of trouble.
• It would encourage more people to exercise and be outdoors! As more residences are being developed in the area, a safer
and multi-use (for all ages) space would allow people to live out these goals.
• We need the park space!
• We need more park space.
• It is pretty small, so it would help if it were larger and it can be a place where people can go locally to relax, play volleyball,
and be by the river.
• I don't think many residents even know this park is here since it's not visible from most of the street and is not connected
by trail to any other parks. Parkland at the end of the street would provide more usable recreational space and promote
use of the park through being more visible from up the street.
• To prevent break-ins at night, please plan street lights.
• It would give the workers in the area a place to enjoy their coffee and lunch breaks
• To cut possible break ins at night, please install street lights.
Shaughnessy Park Expansion (south end of Shaughnessy St)
I think:
converting the south end of Shaughnessy St. into a park is a good idea because....
I have some concerns about conveting the south end of Shaughnessy St. into a park because….
I’m not sure how I feel about this idea because…
• It should be the west side, the south is the river.
• Really this is a park you have to drive to and if there's no parking it would likely stop people going there.
• This street end's functional purposes (turn-around industrial and park traffic, industrial and park parking) need to be
examined first. If the City wants to provide an amenity needed because of approving 25 to 40 storey towers in areas
where there are no amenities, then the City should purchase lands for this purpose. I believe it is short sighted for the City
to use road rights of way for other purposes without a thorough examination of the implications of doing so.
• We are opposed to the expansion of Shaughnessy Park to the south end of Shaughnessy Street in Vancouver’s
Marpole Area. We are the property owner at the south end of Shaughnessy Street. Amongst many other factors, our
tenants are attracted to lease in this building due to its location and its amenities. The City Park and our amount of
available parking are two of these amenities; both onsite parking and the additional street parking that is available.
However, although minor, due to our close proximity to Richmond, where rents are lower, property taxes are lower and
parking is ample, this loss of additional street parking would be an un-needed leasing challenge for us to work through.
Shaughnessy Park has value and the benefits it has provided both our tenants and ourselves. However, we have never
noted a need for an expansion of it to meet the demands of its users. If anything, our own experience and that of our
tenants has confirmed that the park has more than enough current capacity to meet the demand of those that use it. A
demand, that we may add, which is not very significant as not very many of the area’s tenants currently use it. The area of
road/parking that is proposed to be converted into added park space would remove the only parking that users of the
park have to begin with. This in turn would add pressure on the existing street parking that is already heavily used by not
only the tenants of Riverfront, but also our neighbouring industrial tenants. The City’s aim to add more green space to the
Marpole community comes from a good place and is for the right reasons. However, we are certain that those funds may
be better directed to areas that can be enjoyed by a larger cross section of the local community. This is again why we wish
to reinforce the point – we do not support the expansion of Shaughnessy Park as currently proposed. Thank you for taking
the time to consult with the concerned business and property owners of the local community.
Shaughnessy Park Expansion (south end of Shaughnessy St)
I think:
converting the south end of Shaughnessy St. into a park is a good idea because....
I have some concerns about conveting the south end of Shaughnessy St. into a park because….
I’m not sure how I feel about this idea because…
• It isn't a residential area.
• First of all, I never even knew there was a park here until now. As a senior and a pedestrian I have to wonder how many
people use the park now and what they do there. It appears to be at the far end of uninhabited industrial land, an odd place
for a park and necessitating a perilous crossing of Marine Drive as well just to get to it. Your proposed addition is too little to
make a difference. What would you do with this addition to encourage people to take their lives in their hands to cross
Marine to get there?
• Nobody I know from Marpole goes to that park. but - we all love Ebisu park.
• I like the idea of space along the river but it would be hard to get to. In fact, I never even knew this park was here! If I could
ride my bike or walk along the river from my place near 72nd/French, that would be perfect.
• I'm not too familiar with it. It seems to be set in an industrial area. There might be difficulty for the public to access this area.
• Only if the park is by the Fraser River, then it's a good idea to build the park there.
Other comments received:*
Summary of correspondences received regarding Shaughnessy Street conversion:
0 Phone calls
1 Letter (support)
3 Emails (2 opposed)
* Correspondences with personal information are included below, but may have been modified to remove reference to such
information.
Comments on Shaughnessy Street conversion:
• Our company has been located here for over 6 years and many of our employees, many of whom drive cars to get to work. A
large company has recently moved into the area and since their arrival, parking has become a real premium on Shaughnessy St.
This plan would take away some of the current parking spots which would further increase the problem. I would also like to note
that the end of Shaughnessy by the river has become a bit of a hangout at night with drinking etc. going on as it is not a
residential area and is already not what I would call safe at night. This plan would potentially increase the problem. The end of
the street has a pathway along the river as well as a few benches which appears to be plenty for the useage by the surrounding
offices at lunch etc. in the summer and I see no need to increase the area at all. So....much as I love park space, I would not see
any reason to consider this area expansion into more.
• We write this letter to express our position, and supoprt that of our tenants, that we are opposed to the expansion of
Shaughnessy Park. We are property owners on Shaughnessy Street. Amongst other factors, our tenants are attracted to the lease
in this building due to its location and its amenities. The City park and our amount of available parking are two of these
amenities; both onsite parking and the additional street parking that is available. However, although minor, due to our close
proximity to Richmond, where rents are low, property taxes are lower and parking is ample, this loss of additional street parking
would be an unneeded leasing change for us to work through. Over the years, we have seen first hand the value of
Shaughnessy Park and the benefits it has provided by both our tenants and ourselves. However, we have never noted a need
for an expansion of it to meet the demands of its users. If anything, our own experience and that of our tenants has confirmed
that the park has more than enough current capacity to meet the demand of those that use it. A demand, that we may add,
which
is not very significant as not very many of the area’s tenants currently use it. The area of road/parking that is proposed to be
converted into added parking space would remove the only parking that users of the park have to begin with. This in turn would
add pressure on the existing street parking that is already heavily used by not only by our tenants but also our neighbouring
industrial tenants. The City’s aim to add more green space to the Marpole community comes from a good place and is for the
right reasons. However, we are certain that those funds may be better directed to areas that can be enjoyed by a larger cross
section of the local community. This is again way we wish to reinforce the point - we do not support the expansion of
Shaughnessy Park as currently proposed.
• Yes Creating NEW parks at the south foot of Cambie Street , Heather Streets , Oak Street etc. you must have misunderstood my
message to you and your staff at our meeting at the south foot of Shaughnessy Street ! Yes lets get talking about what most of
the people at this meeting wanted to really happen !Could you please forward on all the S. P. meeting notes , so we can get on
with the New parks for Marpole ! " New Vancouver Parks on the North Arm of the Fraser River"