• Hammond 130 Party Plan Timeline: List of TODO items and the timeframe when they need to be accomplished
• Hammond 130 Party Plan Ideas: List of planned activities

If you can help us accomplish any of the items on the timeline, please get in touch (either via the Facebook group page or by emailing me). We’ll also need some volunteers on party day. If you have ideas for other activities, please also get in touch. The group that is organizing the party can’t take on any more projects, but we would love to help you put your idea together!

Also, if there are any clever graphic designers out there, we’d love a fun “Hammond 130″ logo for the event.

(This is the first post from the Hammond Girl Guides. We hope they will be regular contributors to the Hammond Neighbours website.)

Hands Across the Border is an event that takes place at the international Peace Arch border every second Sunday in June. This event has been going on for 90 years and they have only canceled it because of World War 2 (for 2 years) and the major construction for the border (for 2 years).

If you don’t know what Hands Across the Border is it’s when Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other youth groups get the chance to trade crafts and meet with new people. The twist to this is that the people you get to meet are from Canada and America so it’s not just you meeting the same people from your district.

I’ve been in the Guiding community for 6 years now and I’ve been to Hands Across the Border 4 times and it has to be one of my favourite things about being in Guiding. Unfortunately this year a press release was sent out saying that due to lack of volunteers and money Hands across the border will be permanently canceled.

Cheyenne, 1st Port Hammond Pathfinders

(Guiders Note: Cheyenne is hoping to organize an event to help save Hands Across the Border which has been a favourite event for many girls in Port Hammond District. Look for updates!)

The West Ridge Good Neighbours group has invited the Hammond folks to their plant swap on April 7. Don’t be shy … pull up some ground covers, divide a hosta, dig up some bulbs and come have some fun! If you don’t have plants to share just now and would like some, bring some cookies or something else garden-related to swap.

“We had a good Wharf Street Park steering committee meeting tonight. Good energy, good ideas, good times. We looked at the survey results from the public meeting last week and guided Bruce and Sylvia toward the next step.

“A common theme (among many) from the surveys was using natural materials. Someone suggested stumps or other large pieces of wood connecting to Hammond Mill. One idea we had was some kind of climbing wall, perhaps incorporated into the retaining wall along the east side of the park. I suggested using artifacts from the history of Hammond as hand-holds or just touchable pieces of living history permanently attached.

“I was assigned the role of sourcing appropriate objects so…does anyone have any old tools or implements–not dangerous ones (no saws, please)–that they’d like to donate to the park? If you look at it and imagine someone telling their grandchild about it, I’d like to hear about it!”

About the Meeting

The meeting was chaired by Bruce McLeod, Manager of Parks Planning and Development (bmcleod@mapleridge.ca), with several other folks from the municipality in attendance. There were displays with photos and maps showing the location and current situation of the land. Everyone was given a questionnaire asking their opinions about current and desired leisure activities. Even if you couldn’t attend the meeting, you can still fill out the survey and submit it by Feb 23. There’s a scan of the survey at the bottom of this post that you can print.

Bruce McLeod started the presentation by describing the strategy and philosophy of parks in Maple Ridge. There are several park classifications, from “neighbourhood” parks (which are intended to promote and extend recreational and communal values within a small area) through municipal, regional, and provincial levels of parks. (I’ve got the terminology wrong, but you get what I mean – neighbourhood parks are local, municipal parks draw people from a larger area, etc. These classifications affect issues like parking, traffic, zoning, etc.)

About the Park

Regarding the land on Wharf Street, it was acquired by the municipality some years ago. It’s a small lot, but it’s adjacent to a right-of-way for Hazelwood Ave that runs down to the river. Some of that space can be included in the park (although the pump station must continue to be accessible).

The first development plans for the park occurred 10 years ago. Since then, the parks department has been accumulating money allocated from the capital fund. There is enough money now ($239,000) to move ahead with developing the park. Because of the amount of time that has passed since the land was initially designated, the district is re-doing the consultation process to make sure that the plan fits with the current community.

The Process

1. Planning Meeting: The meeting that was held tonight.
2. Steering Committee: People volunteer to be part of the steering committee that determines the concept of the park. You can be on the steering committee regardless of whether or not you attended the meeting tonight. Email Bruce McLeod, Manager of Parks Planning and Development (bmcleod@mapleridge.ca) to participate.
   1. Feb 25: First meeting of the steering committee.
   2. Week of March 4: Next meeting.
   3. Week of March 11: Last meeting.
3. Open House: The results of the steering committee are presented at an open house at the municipal hall. Comments are invited.
4. Parks and Recreation Commission: Parks and Rec reviews the plan.
5. Maple Ridge Council: Council reviews / approves the plan.
6. Drawings and Specifications

The objective is to start building the park this summer.

Questions and Answers

Is the budget available?

Yes. The funding has been gathered over the last 5 – 7 years.

What happened to the old plan / concept from 10 years ago?

Given the time it has taken to save the money to make the park, it made sense to redo the consultation process.

What about the safety aspects of river access?

This is a design consideration. It may be necessary to prevent water access, but river access is already widely available (including under the bridge a short distance away).

What about the right-of-way?

Some of that land will probably be incorporated into the park, as long as required access is maintained.

Can we keep some of the blackberries?

hahahahahahahaha

What about the traffic on Wharf Street?

Traffic problems aren’t part of the park department’s responsibilities. However, the folks who do traffic management will be consulted, and people with concerns should email dboag@mapleridge.ca.

Is this a foot / bike park?

Yes. This is a neighborhood park. There won’t be any parking. Parking is not an option on Wharf Street. It’s expected that people will access the park via walking or biking.

Will there be fill to raise the land levels?

Yes, to a degree. There will probably need to be some restraining structures. The area is lower than the surrounding lots.

Is the size of the lot a problem?

Part of the concept plan is figuring out how to make a small space useful and enjoyable.

What about the giant kitty litter sand-pile?

Annoying, but beyond the scope of this meeting.

Can we connect with existing bike paths and the “Experience the Fraser” initiative?

That needs to be part of the planning process. We definitely need to connect to the biking and walking paths in Pitt Meadows.

Will there be a washroom?

No. Neighbourhood parks are too small to warrant the expense.

How will we deal with night access / problems with vandals, etc?

Lack of lighting helps to limit night activity. A gate is not really secure or feasible. There won’t be any parking, which helps the security situation. The area will be highly visible to near-by residents, which improves security.

How about including natural elements in the park?

There may be corporate grants available for including natural elements (stumps, indigenous plants, etc) in the park. The Steering Committee will be responsible for figuring this out.

Disclaimers

If I misunderstood or misheard anything, or if you would like to expand on any specific points, please feel free to do so in the comments.

Survey

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Parks and Leisure Services will be hosting an information meeting to discuss design and potential development of a neighbourhood park. The park is proposed for the property located at 20208 Wharf Street, east of Hazelwood Street.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for you to give input into the design of this neighbourhood park.

The format of the meeting will be an open house with information panels, and a short presentation of neighbourhood park design starting at 7:15 pm.

A steering committee will be formed to review the results of information gathered at this meeting, and any subsequent neighbourhood survey, to assist in developing a concept plan. This concept plan will be presented at a future open house.

Monday, February 18th, 2013, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Hammond Community Centre

Here’s what it looks like today:

The planning has begun for Hammond’s 130th Birthday. The notes from Monday’s meeting are below. Please jump in with ideas, suggestions, and offers to volunteer!

When / Where

• Hammond Community Centre
• August 10 or 17 (depending on when the Park’s and Rec department does their annual shut-down)

Theme

• Re-imagine Hammond
• What’s Your Hammond Story? (the favourite)
• What’s Your Hammond Connection?

Displays

Displays set up in the community centre:

• Hammond Heritage
• Hammond Hometown Heroes: (Larry Walker, Norm Grohman, other famous Hammondites)
• …other groups?

Activities

These were the ideas we came up with during our brain-storming session. They’re just ideas – some will get dropped, and we’d love to add other ideas. We’ll also be talking to our Student Representatives to get their ideas.

• Movies in the Park
• Family Dance
• Parks & Leisure activities (like at the party last summer)
• Participaction (the federal program)
• Free / sponsored swim
• Talent show
• Parade (decorated bikes, etc)
• Historical walking tour (maybe also garden tour? house interior tours?)
• Katzie cultural presentation
• Face painting / balloon animals
• Hammond Mill tour
• Kid’s corner with lots of toy trains
• Living history displays: videos showing living history interviews with Hammond Residents
• Community-painted “wish-list” facades on plywood in commercial area of Hammond
• Car show / shine, teenager car show / shine
• Trunk sale
• Basketball / ball hockey
• Watergun fight
• Painting blocks for the pool fence
• Live music
• Karaoke

Partners

• We are approaching the Katzie people with hopes that they will participate
• The Historical Society and Heritage Commission will work with us on historical displays, info, etc
• Pathfinders: the local Hammond troupe has volunteered to help

Food

These are ideas. We have to approach these groups to see if they are interested.

• Kiwanis / Rotary concession
• Katzie salmon BBQ
• Watermelon eating contest

Funding

• We have applied for a $300 Festival grant from the municipality
• We have some fundraising ideas: pub night, 50/50 draws at the Maple Ridge Flames hockey games
• We will talk to local businesses and ask for sponsorship
• We may be able to partner with the Historical Society (so that we can provide charitable donation receipts to sponsors)
• We have to put together some paperwork for sponsors before we can approach them

Hammond’s 130th Birthday Party!

… that will be held in August 2013.

Sorry for the short notice (although Leanne has already announced it via the Hammond Neighbours Facebook group).

The event is free and everyone is welcome. Check out the press release for more information.