News mentions in 2018 about Green Timbers: the park, the Green Timbers Urban Forest, the Green Timbers Square Mile, and nearby areas.
December
Green Timbers transitional housing project OK’d, but without shelter beds (December 6, 2018)
An October planning document stated the project would include a ‘30-bed emergency shelter,’ but BC Housing says it will only be transitional housing
Surrey’s new city council has granted final approval for a transitional housing project near Green Timbers forest that’s been in the works for years, although it will no longer include a shelter, as previously planned.
The proposal, on a 12-acre property at 14150 Green Timbers Way, will see a six-storey facility built across from the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre.
Surrey’s new direction rings civic alarm bells (November 27, 2018)
Doug McCallum’s return to the municipality’s mayor’s chair marks a sharp turn in policy for the city
… Watts noted the proposed SkyTrain line running down the Fraser Highway will have to navigate through the 183-hectare Green Timbers Urban Forest, much of which is within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
https://biv.com/article/2018/11/surreys-new-direction-rings-civic-alarm-bells
October
Pedestrian struck collision – 140th Street and Green Timbers Way (October 17, 2018)
On October 17, 2018 at approximately 3:30 pm, Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a pedestrian struck motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 140th Street and Green Timbers Way. A 59 year old male on a mobility scooter was crossing 140th Street when he was struck by vehicle. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and is cooperating with police.
http://surrey.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2126&languageId=1&contentId=57001
Foulkes, Charles join Surrey Civic Treasures club (October 3, 2018)
Historian and artist honoured at Business & the Arts event Tuesday at Surrey Arts Centre
Jim Foulkes and Roxanne Charles were welcomed into the Surrey Civic Treasures club on Tuesday evening.
The pair are the latest winners of the annual award, given to those “who have achieved excellence in the production of the arts and/or made significant contributions to the development of arts and heritage in the City of Surrey and beyond.”
https://www.northdeltareporter.com/community/video-foulkes-charles-join-surrey-civic-treasures-club/
Transitional housing facility, emergency shelter in Green Timbers moves forward (September 29, 2018, updated October 1, 2018)
Proposal includes 30-bed emergency shelter
Surrey council has moved forward a proposal to build a six-storey transitional housing facility and emergency shelter next to Green Timbers Urban Forest.
The City of Surrey submitted an application on behalf of BC Housing on June 21, 2018 to construct a six-storey transitional housing facility and emergency centre at 14150 Green Timbers Way.
City council voted Monday (Oct. 1) to give its approval for staff to draft a development permit, and also approved the terms of a development variance permit, which will now go to public notification.
September
Two-person ‘Progressive Sustainable Surrey’ slate joins election race (September 14, 2018)
Imtiaz Popat is running for mayor under the banner, and Deanna Welters to run for council
Another new slate has materialized for the upcoming Surrey civic election on Oct. 20.
Previously announced mayoral candidate Imtiaz Popat is joined by council candidate Deanna Welters and together they call for reactivation of the inter-urban rail line instead of SkyTrain or LRT
Welters, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2011, is a director of the Green Timbers Heritage Society.
“I am running to save Green Timbers Urban Forest,” said Welters in a release. “Both the proposed LRT and Skytrain will be detrimental to the forest. The construction of either project will be damaging to the fragile ecology of the forest and noise from both systems will be permanently disruptive to the biodiversity in the forest.
August
COLUMN: Pressures of change on longtime Surrey residents (August 22, 2018)
The ever-changing landscape along Fraser Highway is a microcosm of the change underway in almost all parts of Surrey.
By the 1970s, there were few signs of agriculture on the street, except in the lowlands near Fry’s Corner. Some of the most significant growing still taking place was at the Green Timbers forest nursery near 140 Street.
The nursery and plantation on both sides of the street was part of a commitment made by the province in the late 1920s, after the original Green Timbers first-growth forest was cut down.
The city began a program to four-lane the road across Surrey in the 1990s, with the notable exception of the portion within the Green Timbers forest.
https://www.peacearchnews.com/opinion/column-pressures-of-change-on-longtime-surrey-residents/
July
Find shade and fresh air on a hot Surrey day (July 24, 2018)
Find info on heat-related illness by calling HealthLinkBC at 811 or visiting HealthLinkBC.ca online
There’s nothing like a quiet stroll in a shady park to beat the heat here in Surrey.
The City of Surrey recommends the following “heavily shaded” parks in a neighbourhood near you.
In Whalley there’s the Green Timbers Urban Forest in the 14600-block of 100th Avenue, Kennedy Park at 12171 90th Avenue and the Brownsville Barpark and beach, at 11931 Old Yale Road.
https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/find-shade-and-fresh-air-on-a-hot-surrey-day/
June
Surrey Nature Centre celebrates 10th anniversary on Saturday (June 4, 2018)
Live music, visit by O.W.L. birds and more at Green Timbers Urban Forest facility
It’s celebration time at Surrey Nature Centre.
The 10th anniversary of the facility, at Green Timbers Urban Forest, will be marked during a special event Saturday (June 9), from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
January
Roses and Rotten Tomatoes (Jan. 19, 2018)
Our weekly collection of compliments and complaints sent in by readers
Rotten tomatoes to the person/people who stole one of the big bird feeders at the Surrey Nature Centre. They have been there for several years (thanks to we, the taxpayers). And for the first time, someone has chosen to make it their own. Have you no idea how many families/children learn about these birds as they are feeding? This is part of the beautiful Green Timbers park. Please use your conscience and return the feeder. Did you also take the suet feeder at the same time? Shame on you.
https://www.surreynowleader.com/opinion/roses-and-rotten-tomatoes-jan-19-2018/
February
Dog who came into Surrey shelter emaciated now has a new home (February 1, 2018)
After being found on the side of the road in horrific condition near Green Timbers forest last year, Eclipse the Great Dane has now found a new home. “We are so happy for him,” said Shelley Joaquin, manager of Surrey Animal Resource Centre (SARC).
Surrey Board of Trade releases road survey (February 1, 2018)
A recent report suggests each of those roads should be widened to five lanes: Fraser Highway between Whalley Boulevard and 148th Street (including through Green Timbers park), 160th Street between 26th and 32nd Avenues, and 100th Avenue between King George Boulevard to 140th Street.
https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/surrey-board-of-trade-releases-road-survey/
March
Sunnyside Acres supporter moves his roots (March 1, 2018)
South Surrey’s Roy Strang devoted more than three decades to the urban forest
A longtime Peninsula environmentalist left South Surrey in a hurry, but as swift as the decision may have looked, Roy Strang says it certainly wasn’t an easy one.
https://www.surreynowleader.com/community/sunnyside-acres-supporter-moves-his-roots/
April
Green Timbers Urban Forest: An Urban Oasis
Surrey is surprisingly spacious. As the second largest city in the province by population and the third largest by area, there is A LOT of space to play with. The cool thing about Surrey is that its vast area is occupied by such a diverse mix of urban and rural. Rolling farmland? Surrey.
https://discoversurreybc.com/explore/parks-trails-gardens/green-timbers-urban-forest/
May
OUR VIEW: SNAP is a community group that’s good to grow (May 20, 2018)
Surrey’s Natural Area Partnership protects the city’s natural environment
When it comes to editorials, this one’s a SNAP.
Surrey’s Natural Area Partnership (SNAP), was formed 18 years ago with the aim of protecting the city’s natural environment. Like its name suggests, it’s a partnership between the Green Timbers Heritage Society, the City of Surrey’s Parks Division, White Rock and Surrey Naturalists and the Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society.
https://www.surreynowleader.com/opinion/our-view-snap-is-a-community-group-thats-good-to-grow/
SNAP PROGRAM SPRINGS INTO ACTION (May 11, 2018)
SNAP program springs into action
Spring is in the air and that means boots on the ground for the 14-member SNAP team.
Surrey’s Natural Area Partnership (SNAP) started the 2018 season on Monday, May 7th.
https://surrey604.com/2018/05/snap-program-springs-into-action/
OPINION: SkyTrain-LRT debate only over for one leg (May 10, 2018)
Surrey residents find out transit costs have been bumped dramatically
…One critic says the LRT plan should be cancelled entirely, and a SkyTrain system built instead.
While this won’t happen with the first phase, on which a great deal of planning has been done, that point is worth considering with the second phase – the line along Fraser Highway from King George Boulevard to Langley City. The SkyTrain guideway already extends past King George Station – pointing down Fraser Highway. SkyTrain would have less impact on Green Timbers forest, and the line will need to be elevated in some places anyway – notably in Langley City where it crosses Highway 10.
https://www.peacearchnews.com/opinion/opinion-skytrain-lrt-debate-only-over-for-one-leg/
