Park Board and School Board To Hold Public Forum On Synthetic Turf Playing Fields

November 6, 2003 (No. 56) - A city-wide Forum to consider the options for new synthetic turf sport field installations will be presented Saturday, November 22nd in the Cafeteria at Charles Tupper Secondary School, located at 419 East 24th Avenue, from 1 pm - 5 pm. The public is encouraged to attend this workshop, learn more about synthetic fields and share ideas for future recommendations and locations.

The Vancouver Park and School Boards are looking for suitable sites to install lighted, synthetic turf playing fields. Together, the Park and School Boards provide almost all the playing fields in the city. These fields sustain heavy use from amateur sport teams and physical education classes. There has been a marked increase in playing field sports but space within Vancouver for new sport fields is limited.

Last year, Vancouver voters approved the spending of $2.9 million through the Parks Capital Plan  to build two new synthetic turf fields. Now, people who live in Vancouver or play sports in the city are being asked the question "where should these new fields be built?"

An independent facilitator will conduct the Forum, which will ensure that all feasible sites for the fields are fairly considered while setting the criteria to determine where these fields should be located.

People who cannot attend the Forum can view the draft site selection criteria and a list of potential field locations on the Park Board web site at vancouverparks.ca

Log on to post comments on the criteria or proposed locations or send your feedback by mail, e-mail or fax to the Park Board.

Note: A special Media Session will be held one hour before the Forum (12 noon) at the same location to answer questions.

For more information contact Mark Vulliamy, 604-257-8461, fax 604-257-8427.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.

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