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.