Editor’s note: Jana Thorn informed the NOW that the basketball hoop was taken down Friday morning by city workers.
A Burnaby mom fighting to keep a street hoop in her neighbourhood isn’t giving up despite the city’s insistence the net come down.
Jana Thorn said she’s not satisfied with the response from the city regarding the hoop on her street, and she still wants to work on a solution before it comes down.
The hoop in question is located at the end of Pandora Street in the Capitol Hill area. Last week, city officials stuck a note on the hoop that said it was in violation of the city’s street and traffic bylaws and must come down.
Thorn contacted the NOW on Monday in hopes of getting the story out and saving the hoop, which her kids and others in the neighbourhood regularly use.
The next day, the city offered an explanation for the action, and it appears the city isn’t going to budge on the issue.
Mayor Derek Corrigan told the NOW the city received a complaint about the hoop and staff determined that is was a potential safety hazard for taller vehicles and trucks.
He also said since the hoop is on a through-lane, it was deemed to be an unsafe place to play.
“Generally we’re pretty permissive about opportunities for outdoor play and not overly exuberant about things that are on city land,” he said. “In this case, it’s one they [city staff] determined that was a potential problem and could create liabilities for the city. We weren’t out looking for it, but once someone draws it to our attention then we have to do an assessment and determine whether or not our staff think it’s appropriate, and in this case, they said ‘no.’”
Corrigan noted the court had been put in sometime between July 2014 and June 2015, and city staff have tried to find the owner to move it, but they haven’t come forward.
He also noted he sent a letter to Thorn explaining the city’s side.
But again, the Burnaby resident isn’t buying the city’s explanation.
Thorn said the mayor hasn’t come out to see the hoop, noting garbage trucks use the laneway and don’t have a problem.
“I think his argument against it is absurd,” she said. “To think that it’s in the way of a vehicle is crazy.”
The mayor’s letter also pointed out that Confederation Park was close by and offered a number of amenities.
Thorn said Confederation Park as an option doesn’t provide what the neighbours were seeking to maintain in keeping the hoop.
She also argued the letter doesn’t offer any options regarding the hoop specifically, adding the neighbours just want to have a discussion to keep it.
As of Thursday, the hoop was still standing, but its days are likely numbered.
