Project Information

Park Site at 37^th & Oak Street

• Introduction
• Timeline

Approved Concept Plan
 [1.4Mb]
June 2005


Approved Design Plan
 [3.2Mb]
May 2006

In 2005, the Park Board conducted two public open houses to solicit the community's ideas for park development at 37th & Oak. The ideas and comments expressed at the first open house were incorporated into three options presented at the second open house as a basis to determine a preferred programmatic option for the park. A modified conceptual development plan resulted from this process and was approved by Park Board on June 13, 2005. The approved park concept includes: one soccer field (which doubles as two Ultimate playing fields) oriented to save as many trees as possible; informal play areas; walking/jogging trails; children's play area; off-leash dog area; and natural areas and bird habitat.

In the Spring of 2006, staff, consultants Durante Kreuk Landscape Architects and wildlife ecology firm Robertson Environmental Services developed a detailed design plan for the park, based on the approved concept. The Park Board approved this plan in May 2006. Park construction is began in Spring 2007.

Background

In April 1961, the City purchased the 11.23 ha (27.75 acres) former Shaughnessy Golf Course for school and park purposes. Eric Hamber Secondary School was built on the northern portion. The remaining 4.76 ha (11.75 acres) is known as the 37th Avenue and Oak Street park site. Since the park site was purchased in 1961, very little park development has occurred. At the moment, the park site features a loosely clustered woodland and meadow character, used by the community for dog walking and BMXing. People have expressed concerns over damage by biking activities, perceived antisocial behaviours, invasive species, fire and security, and tree retention but also an appreciation for its casual natural character.

The Conseil Scolaire Francophone (CSF) will be building a public francophone secondary school across from the park site on the southeast corner of 37th Avenue and Willow Street. The CSF school site is not large enough to accommodate a full-size secondary playfield so the CSF approached the Park Board to enter into a partnership for the development and use of facilities on the park site. Facilities contemplated include a full-size playfield and a perimeter running trail and would be available for public use outside of school hours. The Vancouver Ultimate League (VUL) has also approached the Park Board and is interested in developing four Ultimate fields on the site to support league play and possibly enable VUL to stage tournaments. The field would be available for public use outside of league play.

In light of these various interests and concerns, Park Board staff were directed in October 2004 to design a public consultation process for development of park land on this site and to explore partnership options with the CSF and the VUL. Thus, a public process for park development began in Spring 2005.

Contact:
Steve Wong, Park Development Coordinator, 604-257-8402
steve.wong@vancouver.ca

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