August 2021 Newsletter

July 30, 2021

Strathcona Park Update

The Park Board estimates the east side of the park will re-open in early fall. Sod has been laid on the inside of the oval and the plan is to restore the gravel track. Sodding and overseeding of other turf areas will begin this week. One of the cottonwood trees was removed, reportedly due to damage. Other trees continue to be watered weekly. Despite appearances, the six large lights on the field have been there for years, and have not been moved.

As for the west side of the park, the skate park, and a few youth and family activations started in July with support of a staff coordinator in the park. Every Wednesday, the park hosts West Coast Summer Nights, a long-running Indigenous community-sponsored event that started several years ago at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Partly due to the pandemic, organizers requested moving it outside to the park this summer.

The Environmental Youth Alliance has been running plant and land-based programs for youth at Strathcona Community Garden. The Cedar Mound is being given mulch this week and stewarded by Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty & A Constellation for Remediation.Use of the area for off-leash dogs has been limited now that the baseball diamonds are being used by sports leagues. This is especially problematic on weekends when MacLean Park is busy.

If you have comments or questions about Strathcona Park, please contact Strathconapark@vancouver.ca or the online form here: https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-park-board.aspx. Don’t forget to reach out to Park Board commissioners with your thoughts as well (we are happy to provide an email list).  Please cc: sra@strathcona-residents.org to keep us in the loop.


Save The Date – Strathcona’s first “Dog-In” – Sat, August 14, 10:30 a.m.

Doggone it, we need a “dog-in” in the dog days of summer!

Speaking of dogs… Strathcona neighbours are asking the Park Board to revert the dog off-leash area to what we had in 2017 (as pictured above) before the west-side off-leash area was quietly eliminated with no community consultation (and the signs changed). We are also asking that the $10,000 fine signs that were added for our furry friends being within 5 metres of any sports field be removed, as that is most of the greenspace in Strathcona Park. We know we have to peacefully co-exist with visiting sports teams and that is our ultimate goal, but banishing our pooches is not the right answer. Given the rapid increase in density in our neighbourhood and plans for further growth, there is a belief that Strathcona Park should be a community park for use by – you got it – the community. 

Our dogs can’t advocate for themselves, so we’re hosting a fun community demonstration for the dogs, owners of dogs, people who like dogs, people who know people who like dogs, you get the drift. Everyone is invited! Signs are welcome. Stand by your dog!

WHAT: A “Dog-In.” It’s like a Sit-In. With dogs. We need a larger off-leash area, similar to what we had previously (pictured). Let’s raise the ruff!
WHEN: Saturday, August 14, at 10:30 a.m. – noon
WHERE: Strathcona Park in the amphitheatre

For more details on this fun neighbourhood-wide event, complete with treats, doggie portraits, raffles and more, stay tuned: details will be released in the next few days. To volunteer to help out (we are looking for a photographer and people who can help with the snack table and more), contact Esther Rausenberg and Katie Lewis. It’ll be paw-some!

 
New St. Paul’s Construction Update

The city has granted New St. Paul’s project a noise variance permit for certain dates in July and August. Noise levels are expected to remain low. Here are more details.


Prior Street Update

Thanks for your feedback. We’ve asked the city to along 24/7 parking along the north side of the park and a westbound right-turn-only lane just before Campbell.

Here’s a list of further requests made by the SRA, including managing cut-through traffic on Campbell and Glen and a request to close Hawks Ave. Get in touch if you have other concerns.


Keep Our Neighbourhood beautiful – Adopt-A-Block

On July 24, neighbours gathered with their trash pickers in hand for a successful Strathcona community clean-up.

“It was super fun and a great morning for old and new neighbours to connect,” said Susan Adams, who organized the clean-up, supported by multiple non-profits, including the Vancouver Foundation’s Green Neighbourhood Small Grant and the Strathcona Community Policing Centre. Another community clean-up will be held September 19 on World Clean-up Day.

Susan Adams has gone one step further (bravo!) and has offered to oversee the Adopt-a-Block program in Strathcona. The idea is to have residents adopt either both sides of their street – or an alley – to clean up every two weeks. Picking up trash is meditative – honestly! We can provide grabbers and trash bags. If you’ve volunteered in the past – or would like to volunteer, e-mail Susan at AdoptABlock@strathcona-residents.org.


 Street Painting at Hawks and Keefer


Amy Walker and Jade Koide (amybikerwalker@gmail.com and jadekoide@gmail.com) are inviting neighbours to a community street mural painting party at the Hawks and Keefer intersection on the weekend of September 4 and 5. The intersection will be closed to car traffic on Saturday, Sept 4,  7 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept 5,  8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Most street parking will still be available. 

Painting will begin around 11 a.m. on Sept 4, and 9 a.m. on Sept 5. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers are encouraged to join this fun community event, so please sign up. They are also looking for donations of certain supplies: pressure washer (needed on Friday, Sept. 3), brushes, small rollers, trays.  

“We would love your feedback about our design,” writes organizer Amy Walker. “We’ve incorporated imagery from your input as well as the flora and fauna of the neighbourhood. Please get in touch if you have other ideas or color concepts.” 


Next SRA Monthly Meeting

The next SRA membership meeting will be on Wednesday, September 8 at 7 p.m. We hope to host it live and in-person at the Strathcona Community Centre. Stay tuned.

If you have any comments or questions before then, reach out to us at sra@strathcona-residents.org. Remember, we are all volunteers, but we do our best to respond to every inquiry. Thank you for your patience. 



Do you have a great picture of Strathcona you’d like us to highlight in an upcoming newsletter? Tag us on social media (links below), email us and don’t forward to forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbours.