New parks, pool part of $399M capital plan

The Vancouver park board has approved a $399-million plan for the next four years that includes a new outdoor pool, a new community centre and more waterfront park land for the city.

The plan, which is the largest in the park board’s history and received unanimous support, includes $264 million for parks and open spaces, $126 million for recreation facilities and $9 million for service yards.

It represents 14 per cent of the city ’s $2.8-billion capital plan and will add new parks and amenities as well as upgrade existing ones.

The park and open spaces investment dwarfs the previous capital allocation of $91.2 million, mostly to meet demand created by growth (including 60,000 new residents expected over the next decade) and development in the city, board chair Stuart Mackinnon said.

Some key projects include a new full-sized outdoor pool and extensive renovations at the Marpole Community Centre, a brand-new community centre in the fast-densifying Oakridge neighbourhood and the acquisition of waterfront park land along the Fraser River.

The board said the plan emphasizes equity, inclusion and access by making parks and recreation facilities more welcoming and accessible; reconciliation through improving how the board works with local First Nations; and resiliency by focusing on futureproofing parks infrastructure for climate change such as storm surges and rising sea levels.

The largest expenses in the $399 million plan include $105.4 million for park amenities and $80 million for land acquisition.