Our green spaces are important

Re: Are amenity spaces destined to become housing development sites? Opinion, Sept. 9

Elizabeth Murphy identifies the importance of an independent Vancouver park board in maintaining a balance of park land and recreation facilities in an increasingly densely populated city. Community centre associations, or CCAs, along with neighbourhood associations, are strong voices for the protection of these critical elements that create community within our neighbourhoods. Strong, diverse communities support a well-functioning society and a healthy city.

Ms. Murphy’s analysis of the potential impact of the park board’s attack on the independence of CCAs is masterful. CCAs appreciate the importance of their role as reflectors of their communities, and are actively resisting the loss of the independence that would result from the proposed park board agreement. It would be detrimental to their neighbourhoods.

To date, only two of Vancouver’s 20 CCAs have signed the proposed agreement, approved by the elected park board commissioners in April. Most associations continue to express concerns to commissioners about this important document.

Ms. Murphy’s column points out why it is in the park board’s best interest to re-vitalize the collaborative relationship with CCAs that existed before 2009. I hope the commissioners read her column.

Kathleen Bigsby, Kerrisdale Community Centre Society