Townsite Ratepayers Association is looking for a new agreement to maintain the triangle gardens in Townsite.
At the City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting on June 4, Townsite Ratepayers Association chair Will Van Delft indicated that the agreement with the city to maintain the property has lapsed.
“We would like to propose that a new agreement to maintain the triangle gardens is drawn up so volunteers can continue to work in the gardens,” said Van Delft.
He then provided some history, indicating the strip of land next to Marine Avenue from Ash Street to Dogwood Street was operated as a nursery by mill ownership to landscape the Townsite homes being constructed in the 1920s and 1930s.
“When the mill management began to sell off the Townsite homes to private ownership, they decided to give the triangle gardens to the city,” said Van Delft. “At that time, the city was reluctant to take on the extra responsibility of maintaining the gardens. They decided to offer the gardens to the Townsite Heritage Society. They also turned down this offer.
“Soon, cooler heads prevailed and a three-party agreement was created for the city to own the property and for the heritage society to look after the gardens with volunteers. The local union agreed with this arrangement.”
Van Delft said this arrangement lasted for a few decades through various city administrations and was renewed a number of times.
“We would like to have this council assign a staff member to meet with a member of the Townsite Heritage Society board and the CUPE shop steward to create an updated volunteer agreement,” said Van Delft. “As a volunteer, I am proud to be part of a team that looks after the gardens with periodic work parties.”
Van Delft said there are situations that are too great for the volunteers to manage. He said six months ago, the provincial highways contractor removed five large trees along Marine Avenue that were deemed hazardous in the vicinity of the gardens. Stumps were left over.
“So now we need your help,” said Van Delft. “We have approached Powell River Community Forest and applied for a grant to grind down the stumps and install streetlights to complete the manager’s row lighting project that was recently partially installed.
“Once this project is complete it will connect the sidewalk lights with the Patricia Theatre and become a safe and popular walking route after a movie. This will also tie into the Townsite walking tours hosted in the summer months. We hope you will support this project.”
City councillor Earl Almeida asked when the previous agreement lapsed. Van Delft said he has not been able to find the last one in the heritage files. Finding it would require research, but the information is there, he added.
Councillor Trina Isakson asked staff if there was any awareness of an agreement. Chief administrative officer Lisa Bhopalsingh said she had discussed the matter with Van Delft. She said there is evidence there was an agreement, but currently there is not a copy.
“However, moving forward, regardless of whether there is a copy or not, staff has already started some of the work, so I would like to assure you that staff are already starting down this pathway,” said Bhopalsingh. “We are already engaging with CUPE, seeing what we can come up with to facilitate the request.”
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