2019-2022 Park Board Capital Plan

Principles

• Maintain and renew existing parks to meet today’s needs
• Increase the resilience of the park system
• Address service gaps to improve equity across Vancouver
• Meet the needs of a growing population through a combination of adding features to existing parks and building new parks

Initiatives

• Greenest City Action Plan – Access to Nature (approved 2011, updated 2015)
• VanPlay – Parks and Recreation Strategy (currently being developed)
• Biodiversity Strategy (approved 2016)
• Urban Forest Strategy (approved 2014, updated 2018)
• People, Parks, and Dogs (approved 2017)

• Investments in existing parks and open spaces: $77 million

Parks and open spaces

• 65% in good or fair condition
• $1.8 billion replacement value

• Investments in new parks and open spaces: $187 million

Park land

We manage 240 parks and 1360 acres of land and would like to ensure every resident lives within a 5-minute walk to a park.

Expanding parks through land acquisition increases the capacity of existing parks, connects the park network, and serves areas of need. Acquiring waterfront land continues to be a top priority as well.

Park amenities

The VanPlay master plan will provide us with the areas of focus and directions for this work.

Integrating elements of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and Urban Indigenous Peoples history and living culture needs to find its way into park naming and design.

Many neighbourhood parks built in the 1960’s area showing their age and renewal and upgrades are in the works. Building with resilient and durable materials for longer lasting and lower maintenance parks is necessary.

Programmed activity areas

Outcomes from the Track and Field Strategy will inform the scale and scope of projects and upgrades at existing activity areas. Some assets include courts, tracks, grass and synthetic playfields, ball diamonds, and golf courses.

Renewal and expansion of synthetic turf field inventory will begin to address growth needs and maximize year-round use of these spaces.

Seawall and waterfront

Many shoreline, beaches, and marine structures require ongoing maintenance and upgrades to address climate change and sea-level rise. Work in this category presents opportunities for active recreation, heritage and education, while protecting sensitive coastal species and habitats.

Urban forests and natural areas

Vancouver’s diverse park system includes more than 470 hectares of forests, 53 hectares of freshwater wetlands, and 25 ponds and lakes. This subcategory includes park and street trees, creeks and meadows, environmental stewardship, green infrastructure, biodiversity and ecological improvement, and management of these assets. 

General features and infrastructure

The parks system include 65 hectares of horticultural areas, 20km of roads, 28 parking lots, 72 bridges, 5225 benches, 17 community gardens, signs, light standards, drinking fountains, park plazas, and others.

Park Board wants to provide safe, attractive, and comfortable park experiences, with ease of access to and around our parks. 

Park buildings

There are over 180 park buildings including those at VanDusen Botanical Gardens, the Bloedel Conservatory, and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens. A washroom plan for the parks system will provide guidance for upcoming investments in these areas.

Community centres, senior centres, pools, rinks, and theatres are social, cultural, and recreational spaces that provide for community health and well-being.

This capital plan places an emphasis on maintenance and renewal needs of aging infrastructure. Some projects include a renewed Marpole Community Centre at Oak Park, with a new full-sized outdoor pool, the redevelopment of the West End Community Centre, a new Oakridge Community Centre, additional plan for a new community centre at the Plaza of Nations, and renewals of RayCam, Britannia, and Strathcona community centres.

Guiding principles

• Create a healthy city for all by supporting healthy people and healthy communities
• Maintain and renew community facilities to meet today’s needs
• Accommodate community needs as Vancouver grows

Guiding initiatives

• Vancouver Public Library Strategic Plan (2017) External web site, opens in new tab
• VanPlay – Parks and Recreation Strategy (currently being developed)
• VanSplash – Aquatics Strategy (currently being developed)
• Healthy City Strategy – Healthy Human Services (2014)
• Social Infrastructure Plan (currently being developed)

• Investments in existing community facilities: $115 million

Libraries and archives

• 85% in good or fair condtion
• $670 million replacement value

Recreation facilities (community centre, pools, and rinks)

• 40% in good or fair condtion
• $1.51 billion replacement value

Social facilities (example: neighbourhood house)

• 60% in good or fair condtion
• $400 million replacement value

• Investments in new community facilities: $119 million

Libraries and archives

Recreation facilities

Social facilities

This category includes greenhouses, maintenance buildings, and service yards to support the sustainable and efficient delivery of park operations.

Sunset Service Yard, located on 51st Ave, will receive a much needed $9 million renovation in this plan. Considerations for public and Sunset Community Centre interfaces with this service yard will be included as well.

Service yards

• 35% in good or fair condition
• $515 million replacement value