New Westminster News Leader - Should Mercer Stadium move to Moody Park?

New Westminster News Leader - Should Mercer Stadium move to Moody Park?

EXCERPT:

One unpopular option being considered is to knock down the school district-owned Massey Theatre and build the new school there. Another is to somehow build the new school around the historic theatre but doing so would still run the risk of uncovering more bodies, says Margot Barton of the District Parent Advisory Committee (DPAC).

“If a shovel comes up with three skulls and a jawbone, that’s going to be a big problem,” said Barton.
She believes the best solution, although far from ideal, is to demolish Mercer Stadium and the adjacent skateboard park and build a new school there.

The new stadium could be built at nearby Moody Park. Because it builds on Mercer, saves Massey, and looks to Moody Park for a solution, the parents have tagged the idea the “3M” proposal.

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Concerned groups find 'unity'

Concerned groups find 'unity'

EXCERPT:

Concerned groups find 'unity'

Parents, theatre reps say they're working for a good outcome for all

Niki Hope

The Record

Saturday, January 23, 2010

They are building common ground on where they stand on the high school construction project.
That's why parents, Massey Theatre and Mercer Stadium and Chinese-Canadian representatives held a closed meeting Wednesday night.

"It's neat because the group really does reflect families, children and education, and arts and athletics, and heritage and history - that's community life," said Massey Theatre executive director Jessica Schneider, who attended the meeting.

While they have differing concerns about the project, Schneider said there was "unity" amongst them.

"There's a lot of support for each other," she said.

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Audience vents at high school info meet

Audience vents at high school info meet

from the Royal City Record, January 13, 2010

EXCERPT:

The presentation from Malmgren and Alkins was meant to offer an update to the public on the plans for three schools in New Westminster: an elementary school, middle school and high school.

Instead, it turned into more of a public venting session for frustrated parents, Mercer Stadium supporters, the Massey Theatre camp and concerned Chinese-Canadians.

Former NWSS drama teacher Fionna Bailey tackled the city question head-on. She asked if there were any representatives from the city at the meeting and if the city had been invited.

"We gave them notice we were meeting," Alkins told her.

"Shouldn't we all be consulting with the city, the parks and the school board?" asked Bailey.
The crowd applauded her comments.

Bailey said she heard that the city hadn't been invited.

Board of education chair James Janzen said "the city made it clear that it wasn't going to be involved."
"This is just an information session," he said. "I just hope the next meeting will be a joint meeting."
Bailey also took issue with the district's presentation, saying it depicted Massey Theatre in a negative light by detailing what she considers an inflated cost to upgrade the facility.

"Why are you being so negative?" she asked. "Is it because you want Massey torn down? ... The Mercer and Massey are not seen as community assets but as constraints."

Malmgren said there was no intention of seeing the Massey torn down by providing information about the $18-million cost to upgrade the theatre.

"We tried to put forward information," he said.

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Mayor says city won't lose track or field - The time-out corner

Mayor says city won't lose track or field - The time-out corner

EXCERPT:

As far as the future of Massey Theatre, which the district has said it cannot afford to maintain once the new school is built, Wright said the future of the theatre “will come to down to what the people want."

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New Westminster News Leader - School project getting more complicated

New Westminster News Leader - School project getting more complicated

EXCERPT:

Mercer Stadium is also considered as a possible location for the school. Owned by the city, it is more than an artificial turf field, track and stands, said Farhan Lalji, a New West resident and coach of the NWSS Hyacks football team.

“Mercer seats 1,800 people, it’s a unique venue and it’s a perfect size,” said Lalji. “Every time we play a school at our place, they tell me, ‘God I wish I had a place like your place,’” he said.

But, he argues, Mercer is more than a football venue.

“It’s not like football is more important than a new school—I’m not naive enough to think that. But at the same time, that is a facility that adds to the fabric of our community,” he said.

“Whether it’s Massey Theatre or Mercer Stadium, why do we need to lose one to gain one? I don’t understand that.”

Earlier this week Lalji sent out an email to those involved in football and other sports encouraging them to attend today’s meeting, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the NWSS library.

Bill Chu with the Canadians for Reconciliation said his concern is that part of the property identified as the old Chinese cemetery and potter’s field is not protected by the provincial Cemetery Act. There are few burial records for the property.

“There are plenty of people buried there that we don’t know about,” he said. “It would be like digging up Ocean View or Forest Lawn cemeteries.”

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‘Not at Mercer,’ coach says

‘Not at Mercer,’ coach says

EXCERPT:

The New Westminster Hyacks Football coach plans to tackle any plans that may involve moving or tearing down Mercer Stadium to build a new high school.

Farhan Lalji … wrote in the e-mail.
"There is no question that the building of a new high school in New Westminster is a huge priority, and the fact that it has taken this long is an embarrassment in our wonderful city. Nonetheless, Mercer Stadium is not where this school belongs."

Mayor Wayne Wright has said that the school district promised the city that if Mercer Stadium were to be used as the site for a new school, a track and field would be replaced on a different location. "The district promised if anything is changed, fields would be done first, so nobody will be without a field," Wright told The Record last month. "We are not going to be without anything we've had in the past."

But Lalji doesn't seem convinced that the assurance of a new track and field would be enough. He wrote that "any promise to adequately replace it is a pipe dream. "Let's not take away two venues as unique and important to the fabric of our community as Mercer and Massey," he wrote.

"They benefit thousands of residents. There are other options to make this school a reality for the students of New Westminster in a timely fashion."

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