New `multi-dimensional park of the future' in city's downtown to open on Friday
For the first time in a decade, a new park and playground will open in Downtown Vancouver on an 0.8acre plot of land in the Yaletown neighbourhood.
The yet-to-be-named park is at Smithe and Richards streets.
Featuring what the Vancouver park board calls a “multi-dimensional park of the future,” are play areas, climbing frames, hammocks, cosy seating nooks and art installations.
“This park will be a gathering place in the city like no other. It's a symbol of connection to one another, to the land, and an opportunity to build further collaboration with the host (First) Nations for education, programming and artwork,” park board chairman Stuart Mackinnon said in a statement Thursday.
“I'm beyond excited for the communities that make up this city to unite in the burst of colour and joy this park brings to the downtown core.”
Dave Hutch, the board's director of planning and park development, said the park marks an important chapter in the transformation of Downtown Vancouver.
“Setting a standard for innovative, high-capacity, three dimension community spaces, this park demonstrates how to deliver access to nature, leisure, health and community connection in a dense urban setting — and is like nothing Vancouver has seen before,” he said in a statement.
Park board staff say the site will serve more than 10,000 residents and 17,000 employees who live and work within a five-minute walk of the area.
The park has been designed with climate resilience in mind, according to the board, and will include more than 6,000 shrubs, perennials, climbers and mature trees, many of which are significant to and used in Indigenous culture.
Rain and water from the plaza's water feature is collected, filtered and channelled for irrigation and flushing toilets, or cleaned by aquatic plants before entering the city's storm sewers.
The on-site café is designed with a 30 per cent reduction in energy use and features a green roof, the board added.
Independent Vancouver coffee roaster Kafka's will run the café, which is expected to open in May.
The park was designed in collaboration with Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, and there will be an official ceremony to announce the name gifted by those First Nations in June.