The PNE turns 100 in 2010 and the only green that city hall wants at Hastings Park is money, says an area resident.
"Staff have continually told us since 2008 that they are following council direction to create a revenue stream from Hastings Park and that the driving force is the fair must have one million visitors," said West Coast Christian School chairman David Bornman. "This, they decided, could be achieved by more indoor rental space."
Bornman is a former president of the Hastings Park Conservancy, which advocates increased green space at the city's second-largest park. On Thursday, city council voted for a long-term plan that could see a new flat-floor exhibition hall between the Agrodome and Pacific Coliseum, upgraded 4,000-seat amphitheatre and a reconfigured Playland.
Council decided in October 2008 to spend $1.6 million on a trio of consultants to turn the PNE into a moneymaker. Staff considered moving Playland into the former site of Empire Stadium to free-up green space on Windermere Hill. Instead, council agreed to pull Playland's Hastings Street entrance back to create new green space link with Empire Bowl. Playland would be expanded northward.
Coun. Ellen Woodsworth was the only opponent. Mayor Gregor Robertson and Coun. David Cadman were at the Copenhagen climate change convention.
