City Council’s views on Cridge Park
The views of the new Council elected on November 15, 2008, gathered during the election campaign in the autumn of 2008, have been retained as a useful reference as to what they said regarding the preservation of Cridge Park:
Mayor Dean Fortin
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes, and in fact Councillor Madoff with support from Dean Fortin, initiated the bylaw proposal for ensuring parks are zoned parks, especially as it assures the protection of the no net loss policy as it applies to city parks.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
Yes, I recognize the historic and current importance of retaining and revitalizing the Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
Yes, I recognize that Cridge Park is an important link in Victoria’s Necklace of Parks that links Beacon Hill, St. Ann’s and the Humboldt Valley to the Royal BC Museum.
Councillors:
Sonya Chandler
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
Yes.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
Yes.
Christopher Mark Coleman
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes, but critical in this process would be the actual wording of the zoning bylaw. An example of the complexity of this would be the reality that such zoning would have to recognise various specific lands and uses (some of our parks specifically allow “leash optional” recreational opportunities, while dogs are restricted from access in a few specific locations); further, such zoning would still need encapsulate the requirements of the Beacon Hill Trust as it applies to that park.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
Yes.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
Yes. In fact, we have learned much from the American experience of development linear parks systems. Described in the context as a “necklace”, it is really a series of connected greenspace opportunities that act as buffers from adjacent developments, biodiversity protectors, and relaxation components for citizens.
Lynn Hunter
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
Yes.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
Yes.
Philippe Lucas
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes, absolutely.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
Yes.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
Yes.
John Luton
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
All parks should be zoned as parks or protected by specific by law or designation, including Cridge Park.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
I believe the Bowling Green has historical significance and should be protected.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
I support the preservation of Cridge Park as an important link in the green necklace that connects park space in downtown Victoria.
Pam Madoff
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes, as a current member of Council I brought forward the motion which requested that this process be undertaken.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
Yes. The green has significant value as a survivor of the pleasure gardens that were once associated with the precinct and The Empress Hotel.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
Yes. Cridge Park is not only an important, and historic, greenspace but it also fulfills important roles as a buffer zone adjacent to the historic sites and part of the continuum of green spaces that provide green linkages throughout the area.
Charlayne Thorton-Joe
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes, but I would have to know whether there are any concerns that would need me to consider more thoroughly in relation to all parks—not only just Cridge Park.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
Yes, I have recently been made aware that there may be historic significance that may need to be considered if making any decisions regarding the lawn bowling green.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
No, I had not been made aware of this. This would have to be discussed and considered if making any decisions regarding Cridge Park.
Geoff Young
1. Do you support a City-initiated process to zone all parks, including Cridge Park, to a specific Park Zone?
Yes. There should be a formal public hearing before the status of a park or proposed park is changed, and a Park Zone would achieve this.
2. Do you recognize the historic importance of the CPR lawn bowling green?
In its present location since about 1930, the lawn bowling green is clearly a well-known feature of the City that has appeared in thousands of tourist photos.
3. Do you believe that Cridge Park plays a vital role not only in its relationship to the National Historic Sites of the Church of Our Lord and St. Ann’s Academy and the provincially-significant Crystal Garden, but also as part of the ‘Necklace of Parks’ that links the Inner Harbour through Beacon Hill Park to Dallas Road?
Cridge Park provides a setting for the church hall (not the Church of Our Lord) and for the new service annex and rear of the Crystal Garden, but the role of a linkage between the Inner Harbour and Beacon Hill Park could probably be better achieved by an attractive pedestrian route through the block when the Steam Laundry site (the Budget car rental site) is developed.