Cherry Trees Welcome Visitors to Oval
5 October 2009
This spring, visitors to the Richmond Oval will be welcomed by a row of blossoming cherry trees, thanks to a generous donation by the David and Dorothy Lam Foundation. The $200,000 donation was used to plant approximately 50 cherry trees along the Hollybridge Promenade, as well as fund other improvements to the streetscape.
“In the years to come, we look forward to enjoying the blossoms in the spring and the changing colours in the fall,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “This generous donation from the David and Dorothy Lam Foundation enabled the City to transform the eastern edge of the Oval from a grass strip to a promenade linking the Oval with Richmond’s City Centre.”
The vision for the Hollybridge Promenade is to create a Great Street complete with gathering space, that matches the high standards of the Richmond Oval and the City Centre and Middle Arm Greenway visions. The Hollybridge Promenade from the dyke south to Elmbridge will be completed in time for the Olympics.
In addition to the donation from the David and Dorothy Lam Foundation, the City of Richmond has invested $387,000 on this capital trail project as it contributes to the community’s mobility in a developing area. Other features include enhancements to the Hollybridge canal, public art along the promenade, pedestrian lighting, high quality paved promenade surfaces and a tree grove.
The Honourable Dr. Lam served as British Columbia’s Lieutenant-Governor from 1988 to 1995. In 1988 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada and in 1995 was promoted to Officer. In 1995 he was awarded the Order of British Columbia.
