[caption id="attachment_3484" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Thank you to Pakalakamino on Flickr for the source photo. "][/caption] A plethora of perambulating peripatetics and other pedestrians descended on Vancouver at the beginning of October to madly rush through 200 presentations from twenty countries in just three short days. It overlapped both CanU, which I wrote about last week, and a Spacing Vancouver contributors meeting at the same time, and my head has only just stopped spinning from the experience. By the second night, as I struggled valiantly with an avalanche of bright pink balloons alongside Spacing's national editor and local podcaster (true story - photo from another group), I felt the pressure of wanting to attend every single session close in with a rosy, claustrophobic haze. The simultaneously happy and sad reality was that it was simply impossible for anyone to take in all the interdisciplinary opportunities on offer - if it were, I'd still be there, two weeks later, trying to get my fill. Presentations in the breakout sessions ranged from the vague-but-feel-good advocacy victory video to data heavy analysis, and the variety was very much appreciated, if it did make for some tough choices. Note to cycling advocates looking forward to Velo-City 2012: practice your power-walking and learn to be in multiple places at once!

[caption id="attachment_1812" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Norquay Park's rain garden - a wonderful and engaging part of the innovative water management strategy used in the area. Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver."][/caption] What makes a public park successful? Perhaps we can glimpse and answer this difficult question through looking closely at Norquay Park - one of the few Vancouver parks, along with McAuley Park and Robson Park near Fraser St., abutting the heavily trafficked Kingsway and bordered by Wales Street and Rhodes Street. This parks presents a unique local case where a once neglected piece of green has become a beacon of community engagement and resident-driven design. On July 20, 2011, the transformed park was officially opened with speeches by Lynne Yelich, Minister of Statefor Western Economic Diversification, Vancouver Deputy Mayor Heather Deal, and Park Board Chair Aaron Jasper.  Cake and blue-grass music accompanied a diverse group of neighbourhood residents while government officials championed the success of the park.  Children played near the new clubhouse, pop and hot dogs were sold and seniors gathered together with a common understanding that Norquay Park has become a community node instead of a passive green space with little to offer.  Its success has brought residents travel from as far as Burnaby to use the park following the revitalization.