Editor,
Not long ago, after visiting the White Rock Library, I couldn’t help but be delighted by how beautiful the day was, especially as I walked past the neighbouring daycare centre. The grass was green, the trees were in bloom, and the property was filled with children, engaged in all sorts of activities. Some boys were kicking around a soccer ball, a few girls had laid out a blanket and looked to be having some kind of picnic. Smaller kids were wandering about, in and amongst various adult supervisors. In short, everyone seemed to be enjoying the day.
How, I wonder, could a room (or even an entire floor) in a highrise offer a similarly rich experience to children in a day care? Fresh air? I don’t think so. Grass, trees? Think instead: concrete walls.
We need to consider the likelihood that many of these children already live in highrise buildings, and that their daycare provides them with their main opportunity for playing outdoors.
If the councillors and mayor need a bigger facility, yes, let’s let them put up with the challenges of construction in their midst while another storey or two gets added to the current city hall. Not only would this save White Rock taxpayers a bunch of money, it would preserve the views of people who bought homes in buildings north of Buena Vista.
The Fraser Valley Regional Library system has been diligent about upkeep of the White Rock Library facility and should not be punished by having to move further uptown into a highrise on a site that has long been promised to residents as an uptown mini-park, green space that is badly needed.
Really, White Rock city council, just exactly whose interests are you looking after?
Heidi Greco, South Surrey
