8 ~ Wednesday, April 3, 1991 ~ North Shore News Residents h A NORTH Vancouver District neighborhood is firmly divided over a pro- posed f0-metre square children’s play area in Mosquito Creek Park. By Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer Two opposing groups of rest dents from oa small area cast of Highland Boulevard abutting Mosquito Creek appointed repre- sentatives and appeared as oppos- ing delegations at the March 2> district council meeting. “This is a wild park. We want our children to enjoy it in that form. No development is wanted there,"” said lan Burden, who said he had 205 signatures opposing the tot lot, But Helly Turner, who said that she lived on a street of 12 homes with 16 children, of whom 12 were under the age of six, responded, ‘‘Good parks do not divide a neighborhood. They unite peopie of all ages to make a community.”’ In November 1989 the parks department received a request for a children’s play area in western Capilano Highlands. A neighborhood survey at the time showed 51 respondents in favor of the proposal and nine opposed. Staff agreed that the Glen- view/Evergreen/Sunnycrest areas fell outside the recommended walking distances of the district’s parks master plan (800 metres to a neighborhood park and 400 metres to a mini-park) and were separated from the nearest play equipment at Fairmont Park by a fairly steep climb. A small clearing just olf the with very phone | Must be activated by Cell City on te BC Cellular The Preferred Network Sale ends Sat., Apr. 6 Open 6 Days 1234 Marine Dr.,.N. Van. : (across trom Specialty Motors). Lots of Free Parking 984-7017 aa ¢ path to Mosquito Creek Bridge was therefore recommended as the site for a ‘small in seale, low keyed" tot Jot with play equip- ment designed for very children. Costs to develop the lot were young ‘1- Proposed play area estimated at $15,000. “public meeting was held on dan. 28 to seview the proposal, and of the 43 residents in atren- dance 31 voted in oppasition. Petitions were also presented at the meeting, with 82. signatures NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL against the proposal and 7o signatures in faver, Staff later determined that some signatures were on both peuons. Fears voiced at that miceting were repeated by Burden to coun- cilat the March 25 meeting. Burden said most objections felt into TWO calenories: safety and preservation of green belt. He said chat the site had recent- Iy housed a newspaper shack that had been notorious as a teen hangeut until it was removed. “This facility a not intended for their use, bur will not prevent them from using it,’ said Burden. He added that there had been tapes in that area, Referring to the seclusion of the creek bed, Burden said, *‘] would temind you that the police cannot watch that area.”’ But’ Turner disputed the evi- dence of rapes in the area, She said that she had spoken to Sc ee Create a beautiful home like MAGIC with Mills Quality Paints & Stains AT MILLS, WE MANUFACTURE OUR OWN PAINTS Fresh & Easy Paint VELVET ACRYLIC Interior/Exterior 3.78 L FLAT LATEX CEILING PAINT 2 3.78 L SALE PRICE SEMI GLOSS LATEX 3.78.L SEMI GLOSS ALKYD SALE PRICE $20 3.78L MILLS PAINT SALES LTD. 8380 River Road, Delta, B.C. Phone: 946-7011 ESTABLISHED 1930 SALE PRICE $ 4 8 13 SALE PRICE $ 4 9 ot over tot lot location Const. Randy White of the ROMP community policing pro- gram who had reviewed the crime statistics of the area. “There was no report of any tapes or any assault of any kind," said Turner. She also disntissed fears of bear attacks based on the fact that the area had been the site of a bear trap two veurs ago. “There has never been a bear attack on the North Shore for at least the past 30) years, according to the district’ superintendent of parks. The bears are more afraid of our children than we are,”” said Purner. Turner also said that the safety issues Of children and dogs, and children and water would have to be addressed by adequate supersi- sion, but were no different: from many other parks in the district. Council will debate the issue on April 8 and directed the social planner to approach the District 44 school board about the use of play equipment at Canyon Heights Elementary School. interior Exterior VELVET ACRYLIC LATEX SCRUBBABLE WALLPAPER In Steck aac a single roll 7 QUALITY GUARANTEED: If you are not com- pletely satisfied with any Mills product, return it for replacement or full refund, Guarantee is limited to replacement of the product only. Sale ends Saturday, June 1, 1991