The idea for the Green Necklace began over 100 years ago! Edward Mahon, a central figure in the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company, pictured a "Grand Boulevard" encircling the new city. This idea was influenced by the Garden City and City Beautiful planning movements of the late 1800s – a response to the deteriorating conditions of industrial cities in Europe. Mahon said:
"Completion of this great public way, with the supporting parks and gardens, will perpetuate health areas and pleasure grounds within a short distance of every resident of the present City of North Vancouver, and our municipality will have the distinction of possessing the most spacious boulevard contained within the limits of any city in the world – a great artificial lung, encompassing the central town, breathing, pressing, forcing into it health and vitality . . ."
"This recognition of the connection between people’s health and our environment is still as relevant today as it was when the City first began."
This connection between people’s health and our environment is as relevant today as it was during the early stages of our City.
City Fathers at City Hall (1907)