Sport Field Strategy

Based on the feedback we received, key areas identified for immediate attention include:

• Prioritizing synthetic turf fields for future investments, especially focusing on renewals.
• Focusing on minor upgrades and repairs, addressing parts of the system that have been underfunded.

The Sports Field Strategy will address these challenges by:

• Implementing the renewed Sport Field Classification System to make sure that fields and amenities are well-maintained and properly used.
• Introducing an equity model for the allocation, booking, and permitting of fields.
• Facilitating spontaneous use of selected sport fields and ball diamonds for residents.

The strategy outlines 5 major capital initiatives: 

• Renew existing synthetic turf fields
• Convert selected gravel fields to synthetic turf
• Create hub sites (parks with 3 or more quality fields and supporting amenities in 1 location)
• Establish parks dedicated to ball diamonds and rectangular fields
• Set up sport-specific priority fields

The strategy outlines a number of operational initiatives:

• Complete a new sport field allocation framework (Action 3.A)
• Compare the system’s capacity to known and projected need for prime-time permit hours, to adjust the inventory’s total size and distribution across classifications as needed (Action 3.D)
• Develop and implement a system to better understand operating costs of each classification of sport fields (Action 5E)
• Develop sustainable annual funding to support the minor upgrades program on an ongoing basis to complete priority field renovation projects which yield immediate improvements to capacity, playability and safety (Action 5.C)
• Develop alternative funding mechanisms including the creation of a sport field renewal reserve (Action 2.C) and fundraising initiatives and partnerships, including through the unsolicited proposals process (Action 8.C) or Think Big Plan opportunities

Implementing these initiatives, along with the ongoing maintenance of Vancouver's sport field system, will require capital investment and additional operational funding as detailed in the strategy.