A Jane’s Walk: Through Southwood
By: Robert Dickinson
Prelude:
It’s a rainy Mother’s Day today as I look forward to doing a Jane’s Walk through Southwood, guided by Brian Pincott, our city councillor. With dinner plans in the evening I thought a walk through our neighbourhood would be a great way to spend the afternoon. I don’t know what to expect but I’m hoping to learn more about our community, where it’s been and where it’s going.
A Jane’s Walk is an event organized to celebrate the life and vision of Jane Jacobs, an urbanist whose vision involved walkable neighbourhoods.
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
— Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities
The Story:
The weather cooperated wonderfully with our walk; the sun even came out. First, let me say it would be beneficial for all of us to just walk through our neighbourhood, looking at what it has to offer and what it has for potential. A guided walk was a great eye opener. Fifteen of us walking the streets and along stretches of grass near the tracks got looks from people passing by. I am sure everyone took away something different from the walk and the following is what grabbed my attention.
We started at Anderson train station and looked at the sprawl of parking lots and car-centric space. This was fitting as it will be the future site of a transit-oriented development (TOD). Due to a slower economy this development has been slowed but will happen eventually. What and how it happens will be of utmost importance to Southwood.
We then wandered to the west side of the tracks and walked through the park near the station. The park is under-utilized, under-developed and dirty. That being said, it has a lot of potential, now and when the TOD happens. Additions of benches, garbage cans and some landscaping could make it a great place to meet with friends and bring kids to play. What also struck me was the view of Anderson station. It’s looking run-down and dirty, and it seemed obvious that when it was built there was little to no concern about the aesthetics and the view that Southwood residents would have. Even a station can have a touch of beauty.
We then walked along Sacramento Drive and noticed that the neighbourhood is designed 
more for vehicles than pedestrian traffic. Sidewalks are bit too narrow for two people to walk on side by side truly comfortably. Side streets have large, curved corners making it easy for cars to enter them without much need to slow down. Sacramento Drive itself is a residential street but is open and easy to drive upon. Translation: it’s easy to speed. None of these things are conducive to increasing pedestrian traffic and encouraging us to walk in our community. We identified another green space that really had no practical purpose. It looks nice, but again there are no benches or picnic tables which would encourage its use. We passed a playground which perhaps gets used but due to close proximity to Sacramento Drive may be a risky area in which to play due to traffic.
We turned around close to Southland train station and walked back along the green space 
between the tracks, alleys and backyards of nearby homes. This area was quite ignored. Seems to be the place where we put stuff we don’t care about or don’t want to see. There were piles of old tracks, wood and machinery laid out on the ground. Granted it is an alley and borders the fence along the tracks but it could easily be a great walking route for people taking the train and neither this green space nor the park give the impression of being a safe place to walk at night after using transit.
We finished where we started, at Anderson station looking at the numerous car parks and the large area that will be the future area of development. Brian Pincott emphasized again that for the T.O.D to be successful it must work with the existing community. Both sides of the tracks’ interests, needs and opportunities need to be taken into consideration so that this development and the existing community can reach the maximum 
potential.
Closing Remarks:
After reading this through, I feel it captures my view of the walk but perhaps it does so in a somewhat understated fashion. The emphasis should be on the potential and ability to improve the neighbourhood so that it does in fact benefit the community. The community being us, the people that live here and the interaction with our neighbours and people who share the parks and streets that is sometimes lost along the way. Due to the fact that vehicles are a key aspect of our lives, we build and design our neighbourhoods on the basis of what is best for the vehicle. Very rarely are places, such as grocery stores, water parks, dog parks, shopping areas, pools, libraries, etc., built within easy walking distances. Sometimes they are nearby but it is easier and perhaps safer to drive than walk.
This walk got me out into our community and out of my car. I plan on walking through the neighbourhood more often. It really pointed out the potential that exists within the neighbourhood. The T.O.D at Anderson, when done with both sides of the tracks in mind could really benefit Southwood. There have been a number of complaints about vehicles speeding along Sacramento Drive. Let me say this, when vehicles saw our group of 15 people walking along the road, they slowed down. If more of us get out and walk through our neighbourhoods, this activity alone will cause vehicles to slow down.
I look forward to doing more Jane’s Walks in the future — perhaps a stroll through Inglewood where I grew up or a neighbourhood I have never been to. I highly recommend that you research Jane’s Walks and in general get out into the community more often and see it up close, not through a car window.
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