The Metro Vancouver Park Thread

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Aren't they still looking for a tenant for the other space at Harbour Green? They might be optimistic here.

They're looking for a tenant for the existing restaurant at Harbour Green, (ex Tap Shack) next to the water feature. That's what the Hive piece is about.

In typical Hive style, they also throw in the still unbuilt restaurant site on the seawall underneath the convention centre, that has had a number of different development proposals, but no sign of construction.

[officedweller]

The Tap Shack/Mill Bistro site suffers from poor visibility.
It is hidden from the street and set far back from the seawall.
I haven't been down there in years, but it could be hidden by trees by now, despite the open fountain area.
It probably gets very little traffic in winter.

[Glow Fun City]

Vancouver Park Board considering $1B motion to fix aging recreation facilities

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c...ard-1-billion-aging-facilities-9.7135089

The Vancouver Park Board is set to introduce a motion calling for a historic investment into the city’s aging recreational facilities of approximately $1 billion, CBC News has learned.

The motion is being brought forward by board chair and commissioner Tom Digby, who called the special park board meeting for April 7 where it will be discussed with the public

Digby said the final dollar figure attached to the motion is still under discussion.

"It’s true there is definitely more than $1 billion worth of capital improvements that the park system and the recreation centres could all use," he said. "The fact is we only have a role where we take our requests up to city council. And then city council will make the final decision."

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Changing City

- snip -

Regardless, it doesn't seem like there's a lot of tenants lining up for that area. Maybe this one's different because it's already built, but I'm not holding my breath if they haven't had any bids in eleven years.

[jollyburger]

Vancouver Aquarium to transform outdoor pools with new walk-through underwater tunnel

Under the ownership of Herschend Family Entertainment, the aquarium is proposing to make repairs to the pool waterproofing, replace underwater viewing windows, and replace life-support mechanical systems and other infrastructure, which will enhance water quality, resulting in improved animal welfare, according to Vancouver Park Board staff.

In the process, the renovation will result in pools with a smaller surface area and a reduction in overall water volume, and these tanks will subsequently be repurposed to introduce a new themed habitat.

A layout plan of the proposed renovation also appears to show that one of the smaller pools at the southwest corner of the B.C. Wild Coast area will be removed and replaced with a small building that includes a “beach,” stair tower, storage, and other back-of-house facilities.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouve...ation-new-walk-through-underwater-tunnel

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouve...ation-new-walk-through-underwater-tunnel

Smart move; it's just been dead space ever since the cetaceans moved out.

[whatnext]

Wow I’m so glad Ken Sim decided to fund important things like one night of fireworks with our tax dollars.

Union launches petition to restore funding for lifeguards at Vancouver beaches
By Isabella Zavarise
Opens in new window
Published: March 31, 2026 at 8:49PM EDT

The union representing lifeguards working for the City of Vancouver has launched a petition asking the park board to overturn its decision to remove lifeguards from five of the city’s 10 beaches this summer.

In March, CTV News reported that the Vancouver Park Board revealed it would be removing lifeguards at Spanish Banks East and West, Third Beach, Sunset Beach and Trout Lake.…

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article...ing-for-lifeguards-at-vancouver-beaches/

A clueless bunch of idiots at the Parks Board married with opportunistic incompetence at city hall is going to cost lives.

[jollyburger]

It's okay maybe we'll have a high E.coli count this year.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It's okay maybe we'll have a high E.coli count this year.

I'm just really shocked the PB would be so irresponsible to remove them from major beaches. Third Beach is packed in the summer and also has lots of children and teens. It is a tragedy waiting to happen. Yet they just voted to blow money at some point to re-connect Lost Lagoon to Coal Harbour.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I'm just really shocked the PB would be so irresponsible to remove them from major beaches. Third Beach is packed in the summer and also has lots of children and teens. It is a tragedy waiting to happen. Yet they just voted to blow money at some point to re-connect Lost Lagoon to Coal Harbour.

I think you're mixing up capital and operational budgets, and:

"Following the Board’s endorsement of the Lost Lagoon tidal reconnection concept, staff will begin engaging with potential funding partners and regulatory agencies. The project is not currently funded, although staff are exploring potential funding streams. "

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

I think you're mixing up capital and operational budgets, and:

"Following the Board’s endorsement of the Lost Lagoon tidal reconnection concept, staff will begin engaging with potential funding partners and regulatory agencies. The project is not currently funded, although staff are exploring potential funding streams. "

A waste of money is a waste of money. They shouldn't even be devoting resources to "engaging partners" if they can't keep the public safe in our parks.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I'm just really shocked the PB would be so irresponsible to remove them from major beaches. Third Beach is packed in the summer and also has lots of children and teens. It is a tragedy waiting to happen. Yet they just voted to blow money at some point to re-connect Lost Lagoon to Coal Harbour.

It goes hand in hand with an extreme lack of pool capacity. Only something like 25% of kids can learn to swim in Vancouver given the current capacity of pools and lessons.

Good luck everyone, you're on your own!

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

A waste of money is a waste of money. They shouldn't even be devoting resources to "engaging partners" if they can't keep the public safe in our parks.

Well I imagine the lagoon restoration grants are different than the hire lifeguard grants from the province and feds

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by whatnext

A waste of money is a waste of money. They shouldn't even be devoting resources to "engaging partners" if they can't keep the public safe in our parks.

Those "partners" are provincial and federal funds made for the express purpose of doing things like digging out Lost Lagoon... whereas lifeguards depend on money from City Hall, so take it up with the "zero means zero" budget.

[jollyburger]

DP for the aquarium



https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/845-avison-way

[jollyburger]

I mean good luck with that.

Park board commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky is calling for a “historic investment” of $1.35 billion for better parks and to address deteriorating facilities throughout Vancouver.

“This is what 15 years of neglect looks like,” he said as commissioners point to widespread repairs at pools, community centres and park infrastructure that have been deferred for years.

In a motion going before the Vancouver park board on Tuesday, Bastyovanszky says a recent audit of the city’s recreation facilities found 72 per cent were in poor or very poor condition, even as the city is expected to be home to 250,000 more residents by 2050.

https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-park-board-asking-historic-recreational-infrastructure

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I mean good luck with that.



https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-park-board-asking-historic-recreational-infrastructure

Ironic then that Bastyovanszky fought the ABC motion to disband the Parks Board. The chance of that kind of expenditure happening are slim to none, but with a Parks Board leading it they’re zilch. Maybe that’s why Bastyovanszky is running for a council seat with the Vancouver Liberals.

[jollyburger]

Long article about the floating spa proposal at Vanier Park

As David Jordan tells it, the business of running a charity has its financial challenges.

He’s seen that first hand as executive director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum, which recorded deficits in 2024 and 2025.

“Earned revenue is really key because it tends to be much more stable, and that's what you need,” Jordan said. “You need stable income that increases over time. Otherwise, you lag behind.”

The museum has an annual operating budget of approximately $1.6 million. The City of Vancouver is the museum’s primary funder at $400,000 per year. But Jordan said that contribution hasn’t changed in 20 years.

The balance of the museum’s annual funding comes from a mix of revenues from admissions, gift shop sales, private contributions, grants and sponsorships. While he noted a 400 per cent increase in gift shop revenues over four years, that alone cannot sustain the organization, he said.

The majority of the $1.6 million goes to salaries of the 20-plus employees, who are under a collective agreement that comes with increases.

Jordan told city council in November 2025 that in the past four years, two curators, a collections manager, an archivist, two program co-ordinators, a marketing co-ordinator and a designer left to work for government and larger organizations.

Reasons for leaving were higher pay and relocating to more affordable communities.

NIMBYs can't walk five minutes to Kits beach?

In an interview, Lount said she was concerned with privatization of the waterfront, views being obstructed by the barge, the negative effect on a small swimming beach and how the setting generally is no place for such a large vessel.

“That area is so shallow,” Lount said. “So they will have to dredge it and that would potentially completely destroy the swimming beach. It would be a dangerous area for swimmers because they'd be having to worry about these boats coming in and out all the time.”

https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-pol...lunge-sauna-barge-at-kits-point-12096501

[jollyburger]

And this one is because of the election.

Vancouver mayor proposes eight new community centres and pools for four-year capital plan

At least eight new community centres and swimming pool facilities have been eyed by mayor Ken Sim for inclusion in the City of Vancouver’s upcoming 2027-2030 capital plan for new construction and facility and infrastructural investments.

Sim announced he will be putting forward a member motion for Vancouver City Council’s consideration next week to provide City staff with key directions and inputs on what to include when drafting the capital plan, which is set to be finalized by the outgoing makeup of City Council later this spring or early summer.

This comes just ahead of the October 2026 civic election. However, each four-year capital plan is decided at the end of each City Council’s term in office, with a large portion of its funding coming from borrowing.

This timing each cycle also enables the municipal government to potentially include plebiscite questions in the civic election ballot to fulfill its requirement of seeking voter permission to pursue construction financing through debt.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-mayor-ken-sim-capital-plan-community-centres-proposal