Blurring Public and Private - Part 2

Back in March, I posted about public use of "private" space, and used the Capital Park development as an example of how the lines between public and private seem to be blurring a little.

Private property has traditionally been considered "private" in North America, but perhaps we are becoming more relaxed about sharing at least some parts of our private spaces.

Victoria has many examples of public walkways close to private property. Here are just a few:

Landscaped shrubbery is used as a buffer for this apartment building on the left.

Public walkway through private residences in Chinatown. I was intrigued at how close to residences people walk.

One of the attractive residences immediately beside the public walkway above

The David Foster walkway along the south shore of the Inner Harbour is another example of public access through private properties.

Access point to the David Foster pathway along the Inner Harbour

Some of the apartments that front onto the water - and the pathway, shown at low tide.

It shouldn't surprise owners of property beside water that the public has a right of access to the water, and to the publicly owned shoreline, but from my work a decade ago with shoreline questions, this has been an issue along many water bodies. The David Foster walkway allows both public access to the waterfront, and shoreline properties to maintain their close views. 

Water features provide separation between the apartments and the public walkway.

An attractive bridge along the walkway

Looking towards some of the private development adjacent to the walkway

Now to look at another example of public use blurring into private property: the Cedar Hill Golf Course. I have enjoyed walking the trail around the golf course a few times, and have been intrigued at how the walkway has allowed public use of what in many places would only be available to users of the golf course.

Here the trail separates private property on the left, and the golf course on the right. Not all houses have chosen to erect fences.

This photo gives a better feel of the layout of the path. In this section, most homes have installed fences.

A public bench overlooking the golf course.

I suspect golf courses have been concerned about liability, should a member of the public be hit by an errant golf ball. Cedar Hills has managed this with Caution signs placed in numerous locations along the trail.

The Derby connector is a pedestrian and cycle path which cuts through the golf course, connecting two parts of Derby Road. It's a great short cut for walkers. I'd like to see more golf courses consider this.

Some of the natural area along the trail.

Another set of walkways I always enjoy is through the grounds of St. Ann's Academy. Originally a Roman Catholic boarding school for girls, it is now a National Historic site, owned by the province of BC. While technically "public" lands, the Academy grounds have a private feel to them, perhaps because of their history.

View of St. Ann's Academcy and some of the grounds

An entrance to St. Ann's Academy grounds

And, one final example of public access on private land, a short walkway through the Parkside Hotel grounds.

A landscaped ramp enabling pedestrians to cut through the grounds of the Parkside Hotel

In my next post on this topic I will look at the other side of the blurring of public and private: allowing private interests to use public space.