Borrowed from your children

A Stroll in Safety: Afforestation Areas Embrace Jane Jacobs’ Vision. At the afforestation areas there are now vehicle restriction barriers at the Afforestation Area formerly named George Genereux Urban Regional Park, and at the entrance to the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.  There are now signs telling men, women and children that they are now entering the George Genereux Urban Regional Park, or entering the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.
“Trees, forests, and other forms of life – you have not inherited them from your forefathers, you have borrowed them from your children yet to be born. Their preservation, their enrichment, is the solemn responsibility you bear.” ― Native American teachings
What happened as a result of signs and vehicle restriction barriers at the South West Off Leash Recreation Area, and at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and at George Genereux Urban Regional Park? What was the result of signs and vehicle restriction barricades?  Illegal trespass has declined to nil.  Illegal activity [i.e. trash in the park] has declined to nil. Woo Hoo!!!!!!!  The greenspaces are now safe. These portions of the afforestation areas are most definitely showing the progress in tune with the philosophy of Jane Jacobs ~ activist best known for her influence on urban studies [city planning] which introduced sociological concepts such as “eyes on the street”.  Nature enthusiasts, dog walkers, bicyclists, photographers are coming out to these areas …. and …. really enjoying it.  There is safety!  This is wonderful progress!
Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) marks a global celebration, serving as a pivotal moment in the women’s rights movement. IWD directs attention to critical issues like gender equality, reproductive rights, and the prevention of violence and abuse against women.
Progress Unveiled: Afforestation Areas Now Safe and Sound
“A city street equipped to handle strangers, and to make a safety asset, in itself, our of the presence of strangers, as the streets of successful city neighborhoods always do, must have three main qualities: First, there must be a clear demarcation between what is public space and what is private space. Public and private spaces cannot ooze into each other as they do typically in suburban settings or in projects. Second, there must be eyes upon the street, eyes belonging to those we might call the natural proprietors of the street. The buildings on a street equipped to handle strangers and to insure the safety of both residents and strangers, must be oriented to the street. They cannot turn their backs or blank sides on it and leave it blind. And third, the sidewalk must have users on it fairly continuously, both to add to the number of effective eyes on the street and to induce the people in buildings along the street to watch the sidewalks in sufficient numbers. Nobody enjoys sitting on a stoop or looking out a window at an empty street. Almost nobody does such a thing. Large numbers of people entertain themselves, off and on, by watching street activity.” ― Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Have you walked the afforestation areas?  Have you really walked these urban regional park to be able to discover and respond to the complexities which exist through observation?  Who has walked George Genereux Urban Regional Park? Jane Jacobs’ Dream: Eyes on the Street, Safety on the Sidewalk How can the Afforestation areas be a “walkable safe location for all to enjoy”?  And today, International Women’s Day (IWD), would women feel comfortable walking in the city, in all urban regional parks, and in the afforestation areas? Walk the walk AND Talk the talk Very wonderfully, full city addresses have been enabled for all city parks, and for the afforestation areas.  An address very wonderfully aids in the safety process in cities, as addresses enable a call for help to friends or family and to emergency support. The visitors include men, women and children.
The world’s forests are a shared stolen treasure that we must put back for our children’s future.

Desmond Tutu

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”― Jane Jacobs
The question is asked again, would you, lady, gentleman or child, feel safe today, International Women’s Day (IWD) or any day in the City of Saskatoon, in its urban regional parks, in the Afforestation Areas and in your city? It is hoped that the answer to this question is a resounding “yes!”, if not why not?  What can you do? Observe, Experience, Do Something. In honour of ~  International Women’s Day (IWD)~ perhaps a statue should be erected in the City of Saskatoon afforestation areas. Why?
“I believe with Ruskin, that I must be just to the Earth beneath my feet, to the neighbour by my side and to the Light that comes from above and within that this wonderful world of ours may be a little more beautiful and happy from my having lived in it. “Richard St. Barbe Baker.
For more information: For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area For more information: Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits NEW P4G District Official Community Plan Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′ Addresses: Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063 Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map Pinterest richardstbarbeb Blogger: FriendsAfforestation Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Reddit: FriendsAfforestation Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas Mix: friendsareas YouTube Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers ) Donate your old vehicle, here’s how! Support using Canada Helps Support via a recycling bottle donation United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..” Richard St. Barbe Baker