Landscaping draws scrutiny

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: July 29, 2011 1:00 AM

Morning Star File Photo

A rocky situation has developed in a Vernon neighbourhood.  There have been reports of children throwing landscape rocks into neighbouring yards since upgrades were done to 20th Street in the Harwood  area.  “We need to look at a hard surface there,” said Coun. Shawn Lee.  Lee insists the rock — which is about four inches in diameter - should be removed because of the potential for damage or someone getting hurt.  “The barriers used to protect the telephone poles can be used as catapults,” said Lee who visited the area. “I tried it and I got about 20 metres with a rock. Some times things look really good but kids can be inventive. Give them ammunition and they’ll shoot it.” A landscape architect decided to go with the current rock size. “We have it in other locations and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t,” said Rob Dickinson​, the city’s engineering services manager. It’s likely the rock will be replaced with quarter-inch gravel. But Lee isn’t impressed with that option. “I’d like to see a different surface,” he said. “You could put in finer stuff but the kids will just use it.” The City of Vernon is also speaking out against complaints that the road upgrades has led to a narrowing of the space vehicles can access on 20th Street. “It’s the same standard size travel lane as elsewhere,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer. “You can get the same truck through there as on 27th Street.” Gous says that the overall width of the road has narrowed but that is because of the curb.