4- North Shore News - Sunday. September 3, 2000 op dreams shattered on Evel Basketball structure on public property ordered removed Keith Lowe Contributing Writer NEIGHBOURHOOD kids on Evelyn Street, who like to play basketball on their own little cul-de- sac, are facing a slam-dunk by the district. The district's engineering department is acting on a street and traffic bylaw chat regulates sports amusements on public proper- 1 Although the hoop has been part of the quict neighbourhood for more than a decade, an anonymous complaint by an area resident has motivated the dis- trict, to order its immediate removal. And for Jett Barker, the father of nwo young boys who play with the offending object, the move smacks of the same mentality that saw street hockey banned in Coquitlam. “Next they won't be able to ride their scooters, or skateboard at the end of the cul-de-sac,” he complained! - The basketball hoop was con- structed by one of the previous residents more than 10 years ago. Cemented into the ground, off to one side of the cul-de-sac by a public walkway, it has since becn adopted by other families on the street, Over the years, neighbours have made improvements to it, including replacing the original backboard and post. Along the way it has also inherited another basket halfway down for “Basically they told me that one person can make the deci- sion for the whole bloc. -—— Evelyn Street resident Jett Barker en See Ce SE Ne eS He Le OS mS EN een em i} aby iatocee, "21 pt. Safety check. 15 minutes - FAST! includes up to 5 litres of 1Ow30 Quakerstaie . 1362 Marine Drive 980-9115 Mon-Sat 8:00amn-6:00pm, Sun 9:00amn-5:00pm = Expwes Sept 20/2000 on cee ee ee see ee eS RD oe Oe ee eee nstruments Drums ee Violins & more ... Yamaha Digital Pianos . tr $1, 898 or $45 /mtn OAS. Yamaha Keyboards..:: : $799 7 YAMAHA PSR 260 Keyboard - = perfect for composing music on computer & for beginning keyboard Students RI Mowe tay *tnclude 10 Year Factory -_ Warranty, Yamaha Bench, ~ Delivery, Setup & Tuning With Rental or Purchase ¢ Maintenance Kit ; * Loaner Instrument during repair ° Color Band Folder younger kids. Barker estimates that sume 18 children play with the hoop, with the oldest being 16 and the youngest at 18 months. Although Barker has arranged a petition he has already been told by Norm Nikkel, the manager of traffic and engineering, that it won't affect the district's decision. Ina letter sent to the surrounding area residents, the district gave an ultimatum: either the residents take the hoop down by Sept. 5, or it will be removed by the district. Barker said the letter made it sound as though the objection was originating with the fire and sanitation departments, but was told on the phone by one of the district managers that the com- plaint stemmed from someone who lived on the block. Since all of the houses in the immediate vicinity have children who play with the hoop, Barker said it would have had to come from someone who lived more than a couple of houses away. “Basically they told me that one person can make the decision tor the whole block,” Barker said. “So, technically, | could com- lyn Street plain about a basketball hoop four blocks from my house and have it removed.” Nikkel agrees that the law is a litle undiscriminating and sym- pathizes with the kid’s plight, but said the bylaw is there to pro- tect people from injury from careless drivers. “We feel we're in a tight spot here, since it’s been brought to our attention,” said Nikkel, who said he has little choice follow- ing a staff member's report that the location of the hoop could endanger the children on the street. “The nearest park is four blocks away,” said parker. “it’s more dangerous if they don't play in the cul- “de- -sac, I figure.” But Nikkel said it was possible that the kids weren’t necessar- ily hooped. He suggested that his mandate didn’t necessarily extend to basketball hoops that were situated at the end of cul- de-sacs where the “risk was much lower. “If the hoop was moved to the end of the street, we likely - wouldn't have received this complaint,” Nikkel said. Wetmore Motors Lid. 2203 Marine Drive West Vancouver RELE!ING APPLICATIONS FOR SIREET VENDING _ WHAT: @ The City of North Vancouver i is:now v receiving 5s applications for the: street. vending of food: products to “for the following location: Where: Lonsdale Avenue at 17th Street, southeast corner Deadline: Please submit an application in person by "no later than September 13th, 2000 Only 1 street vending kiosk will be permitted for each location. Locations that have more than 1 applicant who meet all of the street vending guideline requirements will be awarded by random draw. For more information, application forms, or a copy of the City of Nosth: Vancouver Street Vending Guidelines, please contact Mr. David Owens at 983-7369.