Residents in Port Moody’s Pleasantside neighbourhood say measures implemented by the city to help calm traffic around Old Orchard Park are actually contributing to a summer of “pandemonium.”
Wilhelmina Martin and Rick Ropchan, of the Residents of Pleasantside Ioco Communities Association (TROPICA), say barriers to restrict traffic on Alderside Road are causing pinch points that squeeze together cars and pedestrians trying to access the park and signage in the area can be confusing, resulting in drivers running stop signs, ignoring handicapped spots and parking in private driveways.
Martin said the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing more “staycationers’ to Port Moody’s north shore seeking summertime recreational opportunities in regional parks like Belcarra and Buntzen Lake. But with access to those parks restricted to alleviate overcrowding, the overflow often happens upon Old Orchard, which has the only public beach in the city. She said on warm weekends, Alderside Road and other nearby streets are turned into a roiling chaos of vehicles looking for parking, pedestrians schlepping kayaks, tents and barbecues, as well as cyclists looking to extend their ride beyond the end of the Shoreline trail.
“When Buntzen closes and Sasamat is full, this is their go-to place,” Martin said. “There’s more pressure on the park and it spills into the neighbourhood.”
Representatives of TROPICA recently hosted city officials, including Mayor Rob Vagramov, councillors Steve Milani and Diana Dilworth, as well as city manager Tim Savoie and a representative from the police department, to show them first hand some of the problems.
The list is long.
In addition to the immediate concern about traffic and pedestrian safety because of congestion, the group identified a lack of consideration for visitors with mobility challenges, including insufficient spaces for handicapped parking, the steep slope and stairs that descend into the park from the main lot in front of Old Orchard Hall that forces many to use the busy roadway, the lack of a paved path down to the picnic shelter, and the absence of accessible washroom facilities.
Vagramov said city staff are working on immediate solutions to some of the short-term problems, while their ideas for fixing the long-term issues will be brought to council in the fall.
“I think there was some agreement that certain measures may have missed the mark,” he said. “I am impressed with how quickly we were able to hear these concerns and get to work.”
Ropchan said the solutions don’t have to be complicated.
Among the group’s suggestions are the implementation of parking restrictions on Alderside Road and other nearby streets that would limit visitors to four hours during the summer months, as well as issuing parking permits to residents of those streets. Walkways could also be marked off on some of the busy streets to provide a safe corridor for pedestrians to move to and from the park and their vehicles.
They’d also like to see better enforcement of stop signs, especially at the railroad crossing at the top of Alderside, to discourage drivers speeding into the area and putting walkers and cyclists at risk, as well as the establishment of a five-minute loading zone at the park’s entrance so people can drop off their kayaks or other recreational accessories.
Long term, the group suggests a paid shuttle bus service could be established to carry visitors from parking lots at schools or civic facilities to Old Orchard as well as the regional parks. They’d also like to see the installation of additional bike racks and the construction of a ramp connecting the park to the parking lot so people with mobility challenges aren’t forced into the road.
Martin said the group isn’t trying to turn Old Orchard Park into the private domain for Pleasantside residents. Rather, the space and access need to be better managed so a trip to the park can be a pleasant experience for both residents and neighbours.
“We’re not trying to tell people they can’t come here and enjoy the park,” she said. “Because of the lockdown, we have to manage what happens when people come here.”
Vagramov concedes the city has been challenged by the growing demand on local parks as people look to enjoy the outdoors while remaining close to home.
“The experience this summer once again highlights the importance of land use planning,” he said, adding pressure on the parks will only increase as the city densifies.
