RIVER VALLEY ‘UNCIVILIZED’?
It’s time to put in washrooms: Staples
How will we know that we’ve succeeded in making the most out of our river valley?
Two key signals will tell the story. First, no matter where you are in the valley you’ll be able to find a place within one or two kilometres to get something to eat and drink. Second, no matter where you are in the valley, within one or two kilometres you’ll be able to find a washroom.
Large tracts of the river valley are restaurant-free and washroom-free zones. No one wants to turn the valley into Bourbon Street North or anything close to that, but if we want the North Saskatchewan River to truly be cherished and regularly used by more than a minority population of hikers, joggers and canoers, we need to add such amenities to address basic human needs.
Jason Hayes, who has been running Canoehead canoe rentals in the valley for 22 years, says outside of the major parks there are no washroom facilities in the valley, leaving people to suffer or go in the bush.
“They want to bring people to the river valley, they want to make it more popular, but there’s nowhere to go to the washroom. It’s totally uncivilized.”
Even with the tens of millions spent in recent years by the River Valley Alliance and the city on new trails, bridges, docks and other facilities, the washroom count didn’t improve, Hayes said. This includes near the boat launch at Laurier Park, where Canoeheads unloads canoes and passengers who have been on the river for hours.
More washrooms are needed in the valley, says executive director Brent Collingwood of the River Valley Alliance, but it’s also key to keep the valley as wild and natural as possible, he adds.
“It’s important to do but I think we have to be very careful not to inundate the river valley with excessive washrooms ... I personally wouldn’t want to see washrooms along nature trails. You’re in beautiful scenery and all of a sudden you come across a washroom. I’m not sure that would be appropriate.”
I agree that washrooms should only be built around existing infrastructure, such as bridges and parks, but the most inappropriate thing of all is essentially forcing folks to go in the bush.
As for the restaurant/food part of the basic needs equation, this can be addressed with the redevelopment of Rossdale and Walterdale and with the city enthusiastically embracing food trucks in the valley.
The river valley will always be most heavily used in the summer, so if the city can find a place for food trucks here and there, that might well be a great compromise between the need for service, the economics of seasonal use, and the priority of keeping the valley as pristine as possible. A food truck has a much smaller footprint than a new restaurant.
They want to bring people to the river valley, they want to make it more popular, but there’s nowhere to go to the washroom. It’s totally uncivilized.
Permanent restaurants on the water’s edge also make sense, but only in the heavily but badly developed valley flats of Rossdale and Walterdale, home of the now defunct Epcor power plant.
A business plan for the River Crossing area is coming to council next spring, said Erik Backstrom, a senior planner for the city.
This plan includes two new major public river walks, the
2 km Touch the Water park and promenade from Louise McKinney Riverfront Park to the old power plant, and the 2 km North Shore Promenade from the power plant to the Groat Bridge. The promenades are in the design and engagement phases.
Backstrom sees the River Crossing redevelopment being done in stages, with private and public partners, including all levels of government. This will break up redevelopment into small pieces, which can be funded one by one over time.
“We are looking for ways to get things going on an incremental basis and to space it so there isn’t an enormous price tag up front, but we have strategic, smart investments that can get stuff going and bring life back.
“We want to turn it into a really cherished destination for Edmontonians.”
Before we can cherish anything, we need our basic needs met.
I’ll leave the last word on this to Backstrom, his assurance that the River Crossing is going to get it right on public washrooms and eateries.
“There has to be washrooms,” he said. “There has to be places where people can get something to eat and drink, so whether it’s food trucks or a cafe in one of the Rossdale pump houses, we have to think about it.”