In 2013, CitySpaces Consulting was retained by the City of Richmond to undertake a comprehensive and imaginative community consultation process to determine the future of the Garden City Lands.
The Garden City Lands is a landmark 55-hectare (136 acre) open space acquired by the City of Richmond in 2010. As part of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), and located within the growing City Centre, the Garden City Lands have a limited array of permitted potential uses. Yet, within those parameters, and noting that the City’s population is anticipated to grow to 212,000 by 2021, the Garden City Lands present to the community a unique opportunity to create a legacy for the future of Richmond.
CitySpaces assisted the City by organizing and facilitating innovative consultation activities to help the community imagine the future for Garden City Lands. This included a city-wide “Imagine: Garden City Lands Ideas Fair”, which was attended by 650 community participants and offered background information, eco-tours, videography, origami craft making, and age-friendly game play – all tailored to help residents imagine future uses and activities that best align with the Garden City Land’s ALR designation and its overall potential for the City. Later in the process, CitySpaces also graphically-facilitated stakeholder input to obtain ideas from a variety of key groups, and to receive specialized insights. All engagement materials and outcomes were shared online through the project website at creategardencitylands.ca, in order to foster greater community dialogue.
Stemming from the Garden City Lands consultation activities, a set of guiding principles and a range of possible conservation, education and limited agricultural uses were identified; all intended to shape further community discussions and, eventually, site designs for the Garden City Lands. CitySpaces wrapped up its involvement in this project by making use of infographics and a graphically-rich summary report to help easily convey and share with Richmond Council and the community the emerging directions for the future of the Garden City Lands
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