‘Space-age’ playground rises on site of former tent city
Cathedral across street delighted, but mindful of the ‘catalyst’
A playground has begun to emerge on land outside the Victoria courthouse that was the site of a tent city for homeless people.
The homeless camp was established in the fall of 2015 and remained until August 2016. In the months since, a cleanup that will cost up to $350,000 has removed contaminated soil containing lead, gasoline and traces of methamphetamine.
The province decided to build a playground on the former courthouse lawn, on Burdett Avenue between Blanshard and Quadra streets, after discussions with neighbours.
Dean Ansley Tucker from Christ Church Cathedral, across the street, is “delighted” to see a playground taking shape.
“It means this is no longer just space but a place where people gather, it will be alive again with people. The only thing I hope is that we never forget what the catalyst was for this playground.
“We had a whole community of people who were homeless living here for about a year. It was because of their witness and then the need to do something with the land, once housing was made available, that we have this playground now.”
Tucker said volunteers from the cathedral and its adjoining school were at the site Friday, helping with preparations.
Also volunteering was Jerry Bystedt, a resident of Choices shelter, who spent time at the tent city.
Helping out is a way to do something for the community, he said.
“I was fortunate enough to recover from a serious addiction, and part of that is giving back.”
Donations emerged to help make the project a reality, said Citizens’ Service Minister Amrik Virk, whose ministry is responsible for the property. They included an anonymous offering of $150,000 and Tire Stewardship B.C.’s donation of $80,000 toward a rubberized surface.
Another $50,000 has come from the ministry.
“We have a site here [where] very soon you’re going to see children playing and chattering and screaming,” Virk said. “There’s no sound that brings a community together more than the sound of children playing.”
Virk said the playground equipment will not be what some adults remember from their youth.
“It’s space-age, it looks very cool,” he said. “It spins, it twists, it turns, it does all sorts of wonderful stuff.”
Also included will be swings, slides, a spinning globe and climbing nets. Chess tables will be in the mix, along with 17 new trees.
Students from Christ Church Cathedral school and Sir James Douglas Elementary helped choose the equipment.
One corner of the site will include a memorial for those who served in Afghanistan, with a fundraising website at vicafghanistanmemorial.ca.
The memorial will feature a picture of a Canadian soldier reaching out to an Afghan child, said Brig.-Gen. Larry Gollner, president of the Greater Victoria Afghan Memorial Project Society.
Work on the playground will be completed in the spring.