Project Information

Synthetic Turf Playing Fields

Updated Janaury 29, 2010

Re: the Synthetic Turf Staff Report, scheduled for February 1, 2010

This report has now been withdrawn from the Board's February 1 agenda.

The Board is interested in having a broader discussion of potential synthetic turf sites, including the site at Prince of Wales High School. The report will now be brought to the Board's Planning and Environment Committee meeting on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the Park Board Boardroom.

Should you wish to address the Board Committee on this matter, please register with Hart Nijjar at 604-257-8453.

A Special Board meeting is being called on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Park Board Boardroom for the Board to receive and approve the recommendations for the Synthetic Turf Site Selection report.

Community Participation

Please click here if you wish to to receive updates on the synthetic turf report..

Previous open houses with respect to the shortlisted park sites took place at the following dates and locations:
September 23     Renfrew Community Centre, 2929 E. 22nd Avenue
September 24     West Point Grey Community Centre, 4397 W. 2nd Avenue
September 28     Sunset Community Centre, 6810 Main Street
October 1           Hastings Community Centre, 3096 E. Hastings
November 9        Prince of Wales Secondary School

Completion of Public Consultation

• Staff will analyze public input (from Open Houses, pbcomment & on-line questionnaire) and technical data on the short-listed sites.
• Two sites which deliver the most benefit at the least cost (including impact mitigation costs) will be recommended to the Park Board.
• Vancouver School Board review and approval will also be required if the Prince of Wales site is recommended for development
• Advance notice will be sent to participants in this public consultation when dates and times of the Park Board and School Board meetings on this issue are confirmed.

Background

Vancouver Park Board and Vancouver School Board are continually looking to improve and expand the number of playing fields in Vancouver to meet the City's growing population, and to ensure that men and women, boys and girls across Vancouver have access to such facilities. In 2002, the Park Board, jointly with the Vancouver School Board approved the Playing Field Renewal Plan .

The recommendations in the Plan serves as a reference for future capital funding opportunities and for decision-making in relation to field maintenance and allocation practices. The Renewal Plan also calls for the development of six new lit synthetic-turf sport fields in the city. Four of these fields have either been built or are currently under construction. Synthetic turf playing fields are in place at Kerrisdale Park/Point Grey Secondary School and Vancouver Technical School. In March 2009, the Park Board approved the concept plan for two synthetic turf fields at the "Trillium" park site at National and Thornton.

Earlier this year, the following park fields were short-listed for consideration for the next two synthetic turf installations:

• Jericho Park – east or west field (1700 Discovery St)
• Memorial South Park Oval or NW Field  (41st Avenue at Prince Albert)
• Rupert Park North (Rupert at Kitchener)
• Beaconsfield Park all-weather field (Slocan and 17th Avenue)

A series of open houses were held from September 23 to October 1st to gather public input into which of the above fields should be selected. A preliminary review of the feedback received at the open houses was presented to the Park Board Planning and Environment Committee meeting on October 8, 2009.

The committee requested that consideration be given to a secondary school site on the west side as an alternative to Jericho, prior to a final report going to the full Board. Therefore, with the approval of the VSB another open house has been organized to gather public input on a possible synthetic turf installation at Prince of Wales Secondary School.

Contact:

Michel Desrochers, Manager, Planner, 604-257-8529
michel.desrochers@vancouver.ca