2010 capital budget marks significant investment

June 21, 2010 (No. 30) - Tonight’s Vancouver Park Board meeting will consider a nearly $80 million capital budget, encompassing one of the largest annual investments in capital improvements and infrastructure in several years. This designation comes amidst financially challenging times for the board and council.

Through the 2010 capital budget, the Park Board has committed to renewal in three areas: parks, community recreation facilities and street tree planting. Major cost sharing opportunities with a number of partners, including the federal government through stimulus funding, will allow the Park Board to accelerate its renewal plans and replace aging facilities sooner than otherwise would have been possible.

"In spite of some difficult decisions that the Board has had to make in the past fiscal year, we are proud to report this kind of commitment to maintaining and growing the facilities available for all," said Park Board Chair Aaron Jasper. "This is the kind of long-term planning that will ensure access for Vancouver residents for decades to come."

More than half of the capital budget will be spent on three spectacular facilities:

• The new visitor centre at VanDusen Botanical Garden - $19.4 million
• The new Trout Lake Community Centre - $18.75 million
• The conversion of the curling venue at Hillcrest Park to a new recreation complex - $11.35 million

Other significant and much needed investments will be made to:

• Seawall rehabilitation in Stanley Park and on English Bay - $7 million
• Building of four artificial playing fields at three locations (Trillium, Memorial South and Jericho) - $8 million
• Redevelopment of three neighborhood parks (Fraserview, Grandview and Norquay) - $3 million

The Park Board's 2010 capital budget will maintain existing assets and improve and expand parks and recreation services for Vancouver residents.

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Media enquiries contact Joyce Courtney, Manager of Communications,
at (t) 604-257-8699 or (c) 604-604-861-4375

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.