A park in a new Capstan development will retain 54 mature trees and be a nature-focused area.
The park was originally envisioned by the developer to be situated in the centre of the property, located north of Cambie Road and west Garden City Road.
But after pressure from community activists to save a grove of mature trees in the southeast corner, it was moved to encompass that area.
The concept plan for the 1.3-acre park was brought to a city council meeting on Monday and was approved unanimously.
The original proposal to have a small off-leash dog area in the park, however, it was removed by city council.
The Garden City Conservation Society spoke to city council a couple years, when the original Polygon Talisman development was brought forward for a decision, and asked for the park to be moved to the area where the mature trees were situated in order to preserve the trees and the bird habitat therein.
At last week's planning meeting, the society's president Sharon MacGougan told council it was “immensely gratifying" to see bird habitat embedded in the plan.
This is especially important because Richmond is located in the Fraser estuary and has an international designation of being a Key Biodiversity Area, she added.
Furthermore, MacGougan said, given the ecological loss that’s already taken place, she was pleased to see "ecological mitigation is given serious attention.”
“It’s hard to find places in Richmond to walk peacefully without being bombarded with noise,” MacGougan said. “If we end up with a park where people can enjoy ‘quiet contemplation’ in nature, with space for birds – that would be a great park.”
There will be a nature-focused play area and a pavilion at the park’s main entrance on Cambie Road for small-scale events and daily use.
