Arbutus gardeners hold final party before CP Rail deadline
CP Rail has said it will remove any sheds, storage containers and community gardens after July 31
It was a bittersweet day for gardeners out in the sunshine yesterday, as their blooming plots along Vancouver's Arbutus rail corridor are slated for demolition by month's end.
No trains have run on the tracks for over a decade, but CP Rail says the line needs to be brought up to federal transportation standards to allow trains to start rolling once again.
- MORE | CP Rail orders Arbutus corridor community gardens, property, businesses to be removed
- MAP | Click here for an interactive map of the Arbutus Corridor rail line
The City of Vancouver wants the property to stay as it is, and Mayor Gregor Robertson says an offer at fair market value has been made.
But so far, no deal has been reached.
For now, CP's deadline for corridor users to remove their buildings, benches and beloved plants is July 31.
Click on the video above to hear from some of the longtime Arbutus corridor greenthumbs.
With files from the CBC's Tim Weekes