Roadspill

It's a battle I know I'll lose. The Battle of the Bongos.

Living, as I have, at Lisa's place these past two weeks, I have fallen in love with something that I rarely get on a bright, sunny day on the east side: peace and quiet.

Sure, there is a constant din courtesy the buses and trucks on Granville Street, but that pales in comparison to the noise created by the faux-hippies of Grandview Park -- and their damn bongo drums.

The solution is simple. Remove my ears or move. The latter seems the most painless. But I shall not go down without taking a few swings. No, if the bongos are going to push me from my home in granola-ville, then I am going to make sure that I at least tried to do something.

So... I mentioned the irritating noise that I, and all the residents who live around Grandview Park, must put up, with to a reporter friend. Most, I accept -- the drums, I do not. It is simply inconsiderate to practice a loud instrument in public. If I were to play the bagpipes in the park, would people get upset? Your darn tootin'!

I also mentioned the idea of sitting beside the drummers on heavy drumming days (any warm and sunny day) -- with loud air horns. And when the faux-hippies start drumming, I'll start tooting. If nothing else, this will be worth it for the look of surprise on their little hippie faces.

But the problem won't go away that way. It will take the work of the neighbours, whom, I assume, are as annoyed by this as I am. To test this theory, I am going to register a website, and then post a note (and hand deliver letters) all around the 4 blocks that border Grandview Park. Maybe I'm the only one. If I am, then, I have become a grumpy old man, and will move to get away from those scary hippies.

If I am not -- then we will make a plan. Not sure what that plan is. But we'll make one.

In the meantime, I have written to the Mayor of Vancouver (a cool guy named Larry Campbell) and city council. I tried not to whine -- just to point out my frustration with the situation and to ask for solutions. I actually expect a reply from Larry.

This has the makings of a good story. And if there is some kind of organized resistance to the foul noise that ruins our park -- then my reporter friend is willing to do a story on it. And, of course, I will do the same.

The letter to the city fathers follows. Enjoy!

Mr. Mayor & Council:

I am writing to you because I am seeking a solution to a very simple
problem: the constant noise created by drummers in Grandview Park.

Let me say at the outset that I have chosen to live next to Grandview Park.
And I accept that public areas such as this -- especially on the east side
-- are noisy. Dogs, kids, people -- create noise. It is acceptable and I
accept it.

But a public park should not be a venue to practice noisy instruments.
Again, I think that people singing, playing guitar or other instruments at a
reasonable volume is totally acceptable and adds to our community.

But the drumming does not. It isn't musical in the sense that there are
melodies. It is more of a staccato start/stop/start/stop noise. It is
loud. It is disruptive. It is impossible to escape from. And it goes on
all day. Sometimes there are as many as 8 drummers, drumming as loudly as
they can. Is this acceptable?

There are signs in the park that say that musical instruments are not
allowed without permit -- and a in addition to saying "Please Respect Your
Grandview Park Neighbours" the signs also say that the by-law will be
enforced. What by-law? How can I get it enforced?

As I enter my third year overlooking Grandview Park, I find I am already
having problems with the noise. The way it bounces off the nearby apartment
buildings, the way the sound enters every window. It even comes down the
chimney -- an unwelcome sonic Santa Clause.

I find that on beautiful days, days that call for the windows to be wide
open -- I have mine shut tight. Or I leave the neighbourhood all together.

I doubt any of the drummers would appreciate it if I were to practise
bagpipes outside their homes all day. And I suspect that if this were in
Kitsilano, there would be much less tolerance.

I'm not sure what the solution is -- I only know that there needs to be one.
If there is nothing officially can be done, then I am ready to move out of a
neighbourhood I love. And that, I think, would be sad.

Maybe I'm more sensitive because I work from home (writer/journalist) -- but
at the end of the day, I don't think the noise created by the drumming is
acceptable or respectful to local residents.

I will open my home to you, should you wish to hear what I am talking about.
And I look forward to hearing some suggestions as what I might do to resolve
this situation. I should add that talking doesn't seem to work -- it just
becomes confrontational.

Sincerely,

Doug Murray

Cheers!!!