Four years ago this week #Nanaimo citizen activism saved a downtown waterfront park.

Four years ago this week citizen activism saved a downtown waterfront park from being leased to a commercial developer. This was recommended by staff (!) and passed by the council of the day. The proponent with better sense that either staff or council could muster withdrew the request to take over the park after general public opposition and a well-attended public hearing. Council bullied it through passing at the public hearing but the proponent knew it would never be accepted by the public and withdrew the request.

On Apr 21, 2015 I wrote : #Nanaimo take a minute and congratulate yourself for continuing to stand up for our parks and all shared public spaces. The last Council’s approval of a lease to a local developer of a portion of a waterfront park — a lease plan which should never have been brought forward by Staff in the first place — was rescinded by the new Council last night.

There is now of course a stampede at City Hall to take credit and I say let them have it. Fact is once again Nanaimo citizens showed more common sense than has been coming from our City Hall. An enormously important precedent has been set: entertain the idea of integrating a private project with one of our parks and you better have a plan that clearly benefits the park more than the commercial enterprise. Or Nanaimo won’t allow it. Good on ya Nanaimo.

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