Beacon Hill restrictions hurt the community

Re: “Anti-commercial zealots hurt Beacon Hill Park,” Nov. 11.

Beacon Hill park is the emptiest urban park in Canada. It is a classic example in Victoria of an unwillingness to embrace the present while remaining stuck in the past — at the expense of the entire community.

As producer of free family events, including the international buskers, kite and chalk art festivals, I have undertaken various efforts to establish free-admission, family-oriented festivals in the park, only to be stymied by a myriad of 18th-century rules that no one seems willing to address.

Donations at a family festival that can help pay the bills? Refused. (No “exchange of silver” is allowed.) Food trucks for a day? Refused. Temporary signage to acknowledge sponsors for a day at, say, the bandshell? Refused. They even have limitations regarding how many minutes apart you can mention a sponsor’s name over a microphone.

At one point, I investigated re-establishing a Luminara type of lantern festival in the park, which was so welcomed by the community, and was told by Friends of Beacon Hill to host it in Victoria’s vacant ball field.

I have found success in establishing community events by trying to complement the past with the present. In the case of Beacon Hill Park, there is no present. It continues be a shining example of colonial rule where we peasants have no say. What’s most unfortunate is to see these people deny thousands of children and their families from attending the park. It’s truly shameful.

John Vickers Victoria