Dear Editor,
[Re: Council intends to replace golf course with ball diamonds, The News, May 2]
We need green spaces for good health.
The proposed construction of a leisure centre, parking and small baseball field in Maple Ridge Community Park removes the last good sized sunny, green walking area in western Maple Ridge/Hammond.
I propose that exercise at the leisure centre would not be healthier than exposure to sunshine and outside walking and playing for children and adults in the current park. Looking at a map of the western half of Maple Ridge, there are few visible green areas.
There is the cemetery (limited use), golf course (restricted access), small one-block parks, school yards, and sports fields around Maple Ridge Secondary.
There are few condos or apartment buildings with walking leisure areas around them.
Kanaka Creek is farther to the east and has many trails.
Even though Hammond Community Park/Stadium is for baseball forever, it is heavily used for walking, playing, dog walking, resting, spontaneous field sports, stroller walks, children’s vehicles, lunches, sunbathing, picnics, ball and Frisbee practice, etc. The park has even considered having community gardens. There is plentiful parking in the park, and it’s easily accessible from nearby roads.
My point is that sunshine and relaxation (away from traffic) and family activities are essential to our health, and will be insufficient in western Maple Ridge after the park is paved over, as proposed by the city. There are reports that young people especially are suffering from the effects of insufficient sun exposure.
What are the benefits of sunshine? Here is a list: better sleep, mood, energy, immunity, cardiovascular health, blood circulation, mental health, stronger bones, muscles, and teeth, lower blood pressure, improved brain function, longer life, reduced inflammation, less obesity, cancer protection, less skin conditions, less risk of metabolic syndrome, and reduced stress.
Interestingly sun rays convert melatonin to serotonin which increases energy, with people feeling calmer, more productive and more focused.
How much sun is necessary? Depending on skin pigment and clothing, about 10 minutes/day while wearing no sunglasses. Sun rays make vitamin D from skin cell’s cholesterol which affects most of the benefits.
UV rays also kill bacteria and viruses which may explain why they reduce the spread of TB, for example. It appears that sun rays reduce breast cancer.
North American maps which compare locales of decreasing UV exposure and increasing breast cancer show striking similarities. The sun increases mediators of anti-inflammation in the skin. This is thought to explain reducing colourectal cancer, hypertension, CV disease, metabolic syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s.
Lack of adequate sunshine exposure in Canada is reported to be responsible for 100,000s of deaths.
Please consider not relocating the baseball fields and locating the leisure centre to a more central Maple Ridge location.
Alicia Peters, Maple Ridge
