Vancouver's crown jewel does not sparkle as brightly for the mobility challenged

In Lord Stanley's time people with disabilities were thought of as shut ins, and in a quiet way the park that bears his name still reflects that attitude. Stanley Park is Vancouver's biggest tourist attraction. So why does such a fantastically accessible city have in its main attraction so many barriers for PWDs and many seniors.

 I get that it is a fairly natural setting, but even many of the sculpted areas found mainly in the east side of the park do not have barrier free access. For example at the rose garden there is no curb cut access or safe way to cross the high traffic density area.

On more than one occasion  I have had run ins with bikers, rollerbladers and cars. Even dining at the Fish House requires a lift in the back way if you can't make the stairs. It's easy to find - just look for the kitchen dumpster.

I could not have taken this photo without the aid of a standing wheelchair because the wall of the viewing platform above the inaccessible Eco house at Lost Lagoon is to high for regular chair users to access.

You may be getting the feeling I don't like this park but that is not so. Even with the need for an overhaul it is becoming more accessible and offers many places to commune with nature. Even the Fish House in spite of its inaccessible "grand" entrance is good food and value. The menu focuses on local and sustainable food and wine.

Thankfully things are changing. Accessible bus service on the #19 Stanley Park will get you into the heart of the east side of the park. There are also several bus routes to English Bay where you will find the entrance to west side of the park. city transit is fully accessible

Other attractions such as the aquarium, water park, and pool at Second Beach are accessible. Once you are in the park, getting around can be difficult due to road crossings, bike path cross overs, and other obstacles. The Stanley Park shuttle bus is not accessible and the horse trolley calls itself  "partially accessible".  I suspect that consists of the old heave ho. Ho no, not for me. But do check out the park.  This link will help you plan your tripvancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/index.htm

As parks across Canada celebrate their 100 year anniversary old Stanley is already 113 years old.  I think Vancouver should buy itself a birthday present as it celebrates its 125 year anniversary and give Stanley a bit of a makeover. What say you?

paradise recycled

In 1987 a group of southeast Vancouver residents celebrated the birth of Vancouver's fifth largest park. A piece of land that served as a logging area in the 1940s and later as a garbage dump until it was closed in 1966, was about to be reclaimed.  Everett Crowley Park was born. It's now 2011 and the park that once had piles of garbage as high as 19 meters is now a model of community stewardship. The quote from Margaret Mead can be found in the park next to beautiful Mandred's Meadow and serves as a reminder of what a dedicated group like Friends of Everett Crowley can accomplish.

In the fall the woodpeckers are so abundant it sounds like a crew of carpenters busy with construction

As a natural park it is obviously not very accessible. There are no washrooms or way finding signs and the paths range from gravel to mud to tree mulch. But it is possible to enjoy at least some of the park if you access the main entrance with parking at Kerr and East 63rd Ave. In truth I have burned out my last two electric chairs pushing deeper and deeper into the park. The park is built on an escarpment overlooking the Fraser River and ranges from its lowest  point at 150 ft above sea level to its highest at 500 ft. The lookouts at around 450 feet are accessible through packed gravel road from the main entrance which is at relatively the same height.

You can get close to it on transit by taking the accessible #26 29th Avenue Station bus from Joyce Skytrain Station or the #26 Joyce Station bus from 29th Ave Skytrain station to Rosemont and Kerr. and walk down 3 blocks.

The fact of it is we have a long way to go before we can call this urban forest accessible. But I bring good news. I vow to join these "thoughtful committed citizens" in making this park more accessible while maintaining its integrity as a natural space. You can help! Join me and the City of Vancouver for Earth Day Celebrations, taking place in the park. www.earthdayvancouver.org.  The City of Vancouver Disability Advisory Committee will be there demonstrating ways in which the Parks Board can and does help PWDs access the out of doors. We will have mobimat,  mobi chair demos and accessible golf cart demos . I will write more of these things later. Hope to see you at the event.

Welcome

Hello fellow nature lovers. This is going to be an informative blog for people vsiting  and living in BC, who are disabled and want to Access to our beutifal parks and trails.  This picture of a Pacific Blue Heron was taken in Burnabys Central Park.