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T h e a n s w e r w a s v e r y c l e a r F i r s t t h e y w o u l d l i k e a big raft w i t h a m a s t f o r a s a i l , a flag a n d l a d d e r s f o r c l i m b i n g , b e n c h e s a n d o t h e r t h i n g s b e c a u s e John Lawson b r o u g h t his cows over f r o m V a n c o u v e r to this spot a n d they c o u l d p r e s e n t p l a y s u s i n g t h e raft as a stage . S e c o n d l y t h e y w a n t e d s o m e flying saucers b e c a u s e t h i s w a s t h e t i m e w h e n m e n w e r e first c i r c l i n g the flying saucer, slide & pirate boat 1983 moon. A f t e r t h e m e e t i n g w e b u i l t a large raft w i t h b i g logs a n d w i t h l a d d e r s u p t o t h e m a s t f o r c l i m b i n g . W e a l s o b u i l t two flying saucers w i t h a n e n t r a n c e a n d p o r t h o l e s p l u s o n e large p o r t h o l e o n t h e t o p w i t h a fireman's pole for the junior astronauts to slide into the flying saucer T h e s e a d d i t i o n s w e r e a great success. A l o n g the b e a c h we p a v e d a walk, planted s o m e shade trees a n d installed benches a n d trash containers. T h e entrance to John Lawson Park was s o m e w h a t o b s c u r e d , so I d e s i g n e d a n d w e b u i l t a n i n t e r e s t i n g l o g s t r u c t u r e (see p i c t u r e t o t h e left). N o w e v e r y o n e u p i n t h e Municipal ' wooden entrance structure to park -1985 Hall c o u l d see t h e P a r k . T h e s t r u c t u r e b e g g e d y o u t o c o m e a n d e x p l o r e . S o m e o f t h e p i e r ' s p i l e s w e r e r o t t i n g away. It w a s s u g g e s t e d t o m e t o drive some n e w ones i n between the o l d ones. I d e c i d e d to drive one r i g h t at t h e t i p o f t h e p i e r T h e r e w a s n o w a r n i n g s i g n a n d n o b o d y t o l d m e that there was a telephone cable c o m i n g from V a n c o u v e r right there. 1 heard for a l o n g t i m e h o w some c i t i z e n s lost t h e i r p h o n e service for a w h i l e . P e o p l e l o v e d t o sit o n t h e p i e r t o b r e a t h i n t h e salt a i r so I d e c i d e d t o d e s i g n a p r o t e c t i v e s h e l t e r w i t h b e n c h e s f a c i n g east a n d w e s t separated b y a p l y w o o d w a l l to p r o t e c t the sitters f r o m the w i n d a n d rain wherever it came from. It w a s a s u c c e s s f u l d e s i g n b u t t h e Police Department o b j e c t e d a b o u t t h e n o r t h w a l l b e c a u s e at n i g h t t h e y c o u l d n o t see a p e r s o n at a d i s t a n c e w i t h t h e i r flashlights. 1 c h a n g e d t h e w a l l to children's play area looking south 1959 (note John Lawson holly tree 2150.02.371.DWV an o p e n 2 by 2 grill. It w a s t i m e f o r a n e w picnic shelter N o m o n e y W h a t t o do? 1 w e n t t o the West Vancouver Lions Club a n d they generously p a i d for the w h o l e thing. A t a m u c h later t i m e we h a d s o m e v e r y heavy rains c o m b i n e d w i t h some snow melt i n the mountains. T h e culverts under Marine Drive over flowed. Lawson Creek was p a r t i c u l a r l y b a d . I still r e m e m b e r Mayor Derrick Humphries w a d i n g ankle deep i n water o n Bellevue Avenue. T h e w a t e r w a s b e i n g h e l d b a c k b y t h e r a i l w a y e m b a n k m e n t . A f t e r t h e flood, a drain pipe was installed under the railroad from the p a r k i n g lot to the park. I received a letter from engineering telling me that the Parks D e p a r t m e n t w o u l d be f r o m n o w o n be responsible for k e e p i n g this dock and waterfront at 17th. in 1911 or 12 - looking north 229.WVA.THO L A d r a i n a g e c l e a r at a l l t i m e s . page 7