Summer's coming: beaches and beachside pools open; park rangers on duty beginning this weekend

May 17, 2010 (No. 21) - The start of the summer season for Vancouver's parks, beaches and beachside pools begins this coming holiday weekend. Lifeguards will be on duty starting Saturday, May 22 at Vancouver's 11 bathing beaches and three beachside pools and park rangers will be patrolling the city's parks.

Seaside heated outdoor pools located at Kitsilano Beach Park, Second Beach in Stanley Park and New Brighton Park, will open Saturday, May 22 at 10 am. Check the pool schedules for operating hours.

Lifeguards patrol the Park Board's eleven bathing beaches from the Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day weekend daily from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm (11:30 am to 9 pm mid-June to mid-August) except when red light is on at the guard station. Almost 11 kilometres of ocean beach stretches from Spanish Bank West all the way around English Bay to Third Beach in Stanley Park. Trout Lake, located in John Hendry Park, is the only freshwater, lifeguarded beach in Vancouver.

A team of 25 seasonal park rangers act as the Park Board's ambassadors in Vancouver 's 224 parks. Rangers help visitors with wayfinding, park services, monitoring of play fields, bylaw infractions and park activities such as filming.

Park and beach visitors are reminded that dogs are not permitted on beaches and must be leashed in other areas (except in designated off-leash areas). Fires are not allowed at any time. Barbecue coal pits are provided for hot coals at many popular beach and picnic locations. All beaches and parks will be smoke-free beginning September 1.

All photos © copyright Vancouver Park Board

	Rangers 3504 × 2336 Park rangers patrol Vancouver's 224 parks and seawall system, assist visitors and park users. They can be identified by their distinctive beige uniform.
	Lifeguard 2272 × 1704 A Park Board lifeguard patrols the sandbars at Spanish Bank Beach at low tide.
	Beach Cleaner 3504 × 2336 A beach cleaner at work at English Bay Beach. The machine sifts sand to a depth of 10 cm.

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For more information contact Barb Floden, Communications Coordinator,
at (t) 604-257-8438 or (c) 604-992-5646

 

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 220 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.