Photos of damage done to Dundarave Pier during Easter weekend in 1975 are by Bud Griffith. Left 021.WVA-GRr Right: 022.WVA.GRI The Rebuilding of Dundarave Pier Thanks to the Generosity of Mrs. Kay Meek by Heinz H.G. Berger, LMBCSL^, FCSLA^. Former Parks Manager of West Vancouver T h e D u n d a r a v e P i e r was b u i l t i n 1915 b u t w a s n e \ e r used for its o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e as a ferr>' o r ship p i e r T h e outside walls w e r e concrete bins. T h e p i e r itself was filled w i t h rock a n d m a i n l y c o b b l e ( r o u n d rocks). O f t e n bins were b r o k e n b y floating logs i n h i g h w i n d s . E m e r g e n c y repairs were often necessary'. T h e p i e r p r o v e d to be o n e o f the best r e c r e a t i o n a l facilities, p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r people i n i l l h e a l t h . Before the s e a w a l l , this w a s the o n l y l e \ e l area to w a l k o r exercise i n the fresh sea a i n I n the 70"s, (1975), d u r i n g a severe s t o r m c o m b i n e d w i t h a h i g h tide, floating logs r a m m e d b i g holes i n t o the western b i n w a l l . T h e c o b b l e roUed out a n d the deck c o l l a p s e d . A s Parks M a n a g e r o f West V a n c o u v e r I h a d n o c l i o i c e b u t t o close the p i e r for safety reasons. T h e r e were n o funds for repairs i n the i m m e d i a t e future. W e desperately w a n t e d to r e b u i l d a n d i m p r o \ ' e the p i e r \ r i t h l i g h t i n g , benches a n d p r o p e r f e n c i n g but there was n o money. L i g h t i n g was necessary because we h a d a lot o f y o u n g p e o p l e h a n g i n g o u t at the p i e r at night a n d it was unsafe for o l d e r people. O n e day, M r s . K a y M e e k c a m e i n t o m y office a n d told m e she w o u l d be interested i n p a ^ n g for the r e p a i r o f the pier. She asked " H o w m u c h w o u l d it cost?" I d i d n ' t k n o w M r s . M e e k a n d I was afraid she w o u l d be s h o c k e d b y the p r i c e a n d w a l k out. I needed some time to t h i n k a n d 1 told h e r I w o u l d like to re-calculate m y estimate. S h e answered, "III be back i n one week." W h e n she r e t u r n e d , I h a d a h a r d t i m e r o l l i n g 3 3 6 , 0 0 0 over m y tongue.. A t that time that w a s a n a \ \ f u l lot o f money. T o m y surprise, M r s . M e e k d i d n ' t b l i n k a n eye a n d w T o t e o u t a check for $ 3 6 , 0 0 0 . A f t e r t h a n k i n g her, I i n f o r m e d h e r that w e w o u l d b u i l d a p l a n t e r at the entrance to the p i e r to keep cars f r o m e n t e r i n g a n d w o u l d she like a placjue m o u n t e d o n the planter as r e c o g n i t i o n o f h e r c o n t r i b u t i o n . S h e answered " N o , not at this time, m a y b e at a later date for some o t h e r project." After she left m y office, I r a n d o w n to the Treasurer, L e n O r m i s t o n a n d I said "Please find out i f this c h e q u e is a n y g o o d " because I c o u l d n ' t believe it. L e n p h o n e d after a short time a n d told m e " T h i s chec|ue is as g o o d as g o l d . " \ \ ' e were c e r t a i n that hea\y r a p (material that controls water d a m a g e from the ocean) o n the west a n d s o u t h side w o u l d s o k e the floating lock p r o b l e m forever I was aware that i n the u p p e r C a u l f e i l d d e v e l o p m e n t , a lot o f blasting was g o i n g o n . A s w e l l , the d e \ e l o p e r was l o o k i n g for customers for his rocks. W e negotiated a d e a l . T h e d e v e l o p e r w o u l d p a y for the l o a d i n g o f the rocks a n d we w o u l d p a y for the t r u c k i n g . I was very liapp>- w i t l i this a r r a n g e m e n t . r e p o r t e d to C o u n c i l . C o u n c i l d e m a n d e d a proper, professional e n g i n e e r i n g report o n h o w to r e p a i r the p i e r I was afraid to lose o u r d e a l . I p h o n e d the e n g i n e e r i n g c o r p o r a t i o n a n d told t h e m , " I need a short, c h e a p a n d fast report o n h o w to r e p a i r the p i e r " . T h e report r e c o m m e n d e d that w e use sliotcrete (a m i x o f sand, w a t e r a n d c e m e n t that is blasted against the b r o k e n b i n wall) for the r e p a i r First, we c o u l d not afford shotcrete \ r i t h the I r e p o r t e d the g o o d news to the M u n i c i ] j a l manager, E l m e r B a r n s . T h e m a n a g e r then page 6