New Kitsilano Beach Concession, Restaurant and Change Rooms Open

July 22, 2005 (No. 59) - The new multi-service facility at Kitsilano Beach housing The Watermark on Kits Beach restaurant, a beachfront concession, public washrooms and changing facilities is opening today to the public. A new lifeguard tower and garden maintenance area are near completion. Lifeguard staff will continue to conduct their operations out of a trailer located to the north of the building for a short time until the tower is ready for occupancy.

The new facility is located on one of Vancouver's most popular beaches, with spectacular views of English Bay and arguably the best location in the city for viewing West Coast sunsets.

The $6 million project is a joint venture between the Vancouver Park Board and The Restaurant at Kits Beach Inc. Barnett Family Holdings Inc. holds a long-term lease from the Park Board to operate the concession and restaurant. The restaurant has a combined indoor-outdoor seating capacity of 180 and will be open year round, seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The beachfront concession will also be open year round.

Designed by A.A. Robins Architect and built by Stewart Olson Inc., this multi-service structure continues the Park Board's tradition of design excellence in public buildings. The facility occupies about the same foot print as the original building that was constructed four decades ago. Space has been increased with the addition of the second-storey restaurant and outdoor patio. Many green building principles have been employed in the construction of the project, such as ground source heating and cooling which is captured and piped in from deep below the ground. Other green elements include the use of renewable materials, like bamboo, low flow plumbing fixtures, natural ventilation and solar shading screens.

The new beachfront concession will open at 10:30 a.m. and the restaurant at 11:30 a.m. every day. The phone number of the new restaurant is 604-738-KITS.

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For further information, contact: Philip Josephs, Manager of Revenue Services, at 604-257-8436.

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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