When Louise Wallace Richmond’s son was injured at the skateboard park in Blackburn Park, she realized something is missing in the public gathering place.
She had called 911, which was being dispatched out of the Lower Mainland, and told them they were at Blackburn Park, across from Hucul Printing and the Roots and Blues office. However, in her haste, she didn’t have the street address on the tip of her tongue.
At city council’s March 27 meeting, Wallace Richmond, a city councillor, noted the city’s social impact committee has made a motion that, in the future, all parks be equipped with signs that tell people to call 911 in an emergency and to direct emergency services to the address listed on the sign.
“I think it’s a cost-effective way to minimize the negative impact of an accident,” she stated.
Coun. Kevin Flynn noted that Wallace Richmond had said new park signage. He asked if council would want a report from staff on existing park signage.
“I have no problem for new parks, but if we’re going to do it for existing parks, I’d like to have an idea of costs.”
Council supported the plan unanimously. Couns. Alan Harrison and Ken Jamieson were absent.