PARK UPGRADE HELPS NOB HILL RECLAMATION

Nob Hill Park has reclaimed some of its former nobility through park
improvements and an effort by the community to take back the park from
drug users and make it a community destination.

Lee Sanmiya enjoys going to Nob Hill Park with her four children more
now because of the improvements. She has gone to the park for years
because of the views and diverse hills for her children to play on,
but disliked some other aspects.

"I hated the fact that it had become such an unsavory place to be and
hated the fact that I had to educate my kids on what to do if they
found a needle," said Sanmiya. "Once we have a critical mass of people
using the park for what it is intended, that's when we get a
turnaround."

As an inner-city park, Nob Hill had drug users, vandalism and other
criminal activity, and was sometimes referred to as Needle Park.

But Sanmiya and Nob Hill Neighbourhood Society members Barbara Henoch
and Christyna Melnyk said families have reclaimed the park.

"It's a 180 to what it used to be. It brought the moms back - the moms
and the kids are really using it," said Melnyk. "Now we have this new
sparkling gem of a park. It's like this old penny that got shiny and
new."

Henoch said she hopes other people in Nanaimo discover Nob Hill and
put it on their list of parks to visit.

Ivo Beitsma, another Nob Hill Society member, said the park has become
what the community intended it to be.

"Kids playing in the park sends signals to drug users and people who
want to make it their own, these elements of society, it sends a
signal that this is a place for kids," said Beitsma.

The playground upgrade was completed in September and other Phase 1
improvements - new brighter lighting, picnic tables and benches - were
completed mid-October.

Phase 1 cost $45,000.

Funds came from the city's parks budget - $30,000 from a Volunteers in
Parks grant and $15,000 from the operating budget.

Phase 2 development plans aren't finalized, but will be completed in
2009.

Phase 2 plans being discussed include historical kiosks, a historical
walking tour beginning and ending in the park and a stage to host
events. The society recently incorporated to apply for grants to
improve the park.

Kirsty MacDonald, city parks planner, said the improvements are
intended to make the neighbourhood more comfortable with using the
park. The City of Nanaimo has worked closely with the society during
the planning.

"The process itself is really neighbours reclaiming their park and
getting involved in the park," said MacDonald.