6 Oct 2025 Council meeting Environment

Councillor Manly Motion re: Naming the Park at 933 Park Avenue

Motion
That Council direct Staff to name the park located at 933 Park Avenue ‘Five Acres Farm Community Park’.
Minutes, page 12
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda, whole meeting
Put forward by Paul Manly Source

Paul Manly Yes

The historic place consists of buildings and acreage. The heritage value, the five acre farm site is. Exceptionally significant, as they only recognized intact acreage in one of British Columbia's earliest planned communities. In 1884, Samuel Robbins, superintendent of the Vancouver coal mining and land company, purchased heroin Estates, a large parcel of land between Naimo and the base of mount. Benson Robins subdivided the area into five acre lots and made them available to mining families as homesteads at affordable prices. Robbins envisioned farming as a way for miners to provide for themselves. Whenever coal markets were depressed. This property is one of the few remaining original five acre farms the farm includes acreages, house, et cetera. The sole farm acreage in an area of single family dwellings on small lots. The five acre farm is a highly visible and well loved community landmark. The address on this is. 560 3rd Avenue. Third street, which, as you know, is now the home to several large apartment buildings and another small development. Five acres. Represent the heritage. Of the area of Herwood. My father will tell you stories about. Walking to where the Fairview school is now, to the farm, there to pick up a cow. And walk it back home up Jinglepot Road. And so, naming the park. After. The move to preserve it as a five acre parcel, to recognize this history, to recognize the contribution of Samuel Robbins. This was the bread basket of the Nanaimo region. For many, many years. It was the first. Planned community. West of Manitoba, and I think. That the history of people calling it five acres makes it an appropriate name for the park that's been established there.

Ian Thorpe No

Thanks for worship. As council already knows, I think I will not be supporting this. I think the name. Sounds very appropriate, but it says five acres Farm Community park. And I would much prefer that this suggestion or recommendation came from the community. I don't think. It's really appropriate for council to unilaterally impose a name on a park. Like this without first hearing from the residents in that area. I'm sure they have no objection. And if we received a letter from the community association with a show of support, I would. Happily support it, but under.

Leonard Krog Yes

And I appreciate councilor Thorpe's principal. Position on this in terms of ensuring that the community asks for this. But I think the overall history of this community. And. For practical purposes. After contact, the history of this community was about the mining of coal. This is an integral part of the industrial heritage and history of this community. Five acre farms. I did teasingly say to councilor Thorpe earlier when councilor Mani was speaking. They were very happy to have a five acre farm so the miners wouldn't ask for. A raise and their miserable wages working in the coal mines after more self sufficient that may be. A cynical view of history, however. So I think it's an entirely appropriate name.