The Vancouver Park Board has signaled it is ready to return some logs to the beaches after a strong show of public support for them.
Last week, the park board announced plans to leave the beaches largely bare after officials removed logs during the pandemic to encourage physical distancing.
At that time, the logs were piled up on the beaches and surrounded by a blue fence. The enclosures were called “log prisons.”
According to Steve Jackson, director of business services for the park board, officials have found that people are less likely to leave trash behind when the logs are gone and cleanup is easier.
Jackson also said that without logs, beachgoers can sit wherever they want, but when the logs are in place, people aren’t likely to sit in the awkward space between them.
A machine is used to remove a log from Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach in March 2020 in response to the start of the pandemic. (Maggie McPherson/CBC)
This week, with the weather making for perfect beach days, the question attracted a surprising number of comments about logs – mostly in favor.
“I would bring them back because it gives you a nice place to sit. Gives everyone a place to put their stuff. It fills it because right now it is empty,” said Harmeet Dhaliwal.
Jacqueline Ko and her friend sat on one of the few logs that line the edges of Jericho Beach Monday afternoon.
“I miss the logs. They were nice to mark your territory on the beach, a place to put your stuff, to lean against,” Ko said. “Yes, I miss the logs. I wish they would come back.’
Micha Ignatev had laid down on a blanket in the sand, on the sparse beach.
“It frames the beach. Gives some segmentation. You kind of have a certain space when you’re next to a log,” he said.
An aerial photo shows logs spread out evenly on Locarno Beach in Vancouver, July 5, 2022 (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Troy Moltz and two friends were also placed at Jericho Beach on a blanket – two bicycles and a skateboard lying in the sand.
“Honestly, yes. It would be good to have the bike leaning against a log,” Moltz said, adding that they are also good for leaning or sitting on.
“I’d bring the logs back, yes,” he said, glancing at a nearby beachgoer who had caught one of the rare logs closer to shore.
Log piles are no longer surrounded by blue fences or “log gates”. (Rafferty Baker/CBC)
But troupe supporters were not without criticism at Jericho Beach on Monday.
Kylie Brezniak and a friend lay on a blanket in a spacious section of the beach with plenty of room before the next group. They said they actually prefer to spread out on the wide open, empty beach space.
“When you don’t have logs, there’s more room for a lot of people to sit and less of a marked area,” Brezniak said. “Helps on a busy day.”
The results of a quick survey conducted by CBC News at Jericho Beach on Monday likely reflect feedback the park board has received since its plan for the logs became public last week.
“We’re learning as we go and hearing from the public sometimes when things don’t align with their particular opinions and views.” We’ve been really encouraged to hear from the public and to hear that they want the beach troupes back,” Jackson said.
“There is a realistic scenario where there will be a few more logs put back. We need to figure out how much, how to distribute them, what will strike that balance between those who want that open beach space and those who want those logs back.”
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