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.
“The city will have to make the difficult decision as to which assets are a priority … and which assets it will decommission,” said city auditor general Mike Macdonell.
Bastyovanszky noted the indefinite closure of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, after a chunk of concrete fell from its ceiling in early November, as a warning sign.
“Its closure was a prelude to what’s coming … it was a canary in a coal mine,” he said.
The proposal comes as the city prepares its three-year capital plan, with discussions underway between park board and city staff, along with the mayor, councillors and commissioners ahead of a June presentation.
The money would be used to improve and expand on the recreational system of 240 parks and beaches, two dozen community centres, 14 aquatic facilities, 155 sports fields and eight ice rinks.
Board chair Tom Digby said the final figure is not set, but said the amount reflects system-wide needs rather than taxpayer cost alone.
“The taxpayer portion might only be a small part of that amount,” said Digby.
The capital investments would come from the city’s real estate and facilities management department, not the park board.
That department, which is responsible for maintaining and renewing park board facilities, has called for a five-year, $347 million emergency restoration fund that is part of the park board’s capital plan for 2023-26. But none of that money has been spent, said Bastyovanszky. In fact, he said, the opposite happened, with the city reallocating $50 million from parks and rec during a mid-term council budget review.
Vancouver park commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky
The auditor general said more is needed, and said the facilities management department should work with the park board on a plan to upgrade park facilities.
The billion-plus investment is proposed as part of the 2027-30 capital plan. A special meeting of the park board on Tuesday, April 7, will discuss priorities and allow the public to weigh in on the draft plan.
It would then be voted on by the park board in early July, then go to city council in late July — when the public will again be able to speak to council before it is added to October 2026 municipal election ballots, where Vancouverites can vote to approve or reject borrowing for the upgrades.
The proposal outlines major investments, including $200 million for aquatic facilities, including the replacement of the Kitsilano pool and a new 50-metre pool, $200 million for community centre renewals that prioitize Hastings, Kensington and Renfrew, and $300 million for seawall repairs, playgrounds, sports fields and infrastructure upgrades.
It also includes a proposed $300 million renewal of Britannia Community Centre in partnership with the Vancouver Canucks, alongside $100 million for projects partnered with government, and $50 million for biodiversity restoration initiatives, including work at Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake in Stanley Park.
As part of the proposal, $100 million is earmarked for government-partnered projects, including the renewal of RayCam Community Centre in collaboration with B.C. Housing, as well as the West End Community Hub and Strathcona Community Centre, both of which would require support from the Vancouver school board.
The park board proposal includes a proposed $300 million renewal of Britannia Community Centre in partnership with the Vancouver Canucks.
Digby said the end-of-life state of recreation facilities is partly tied to a 2011 decision when the city centralized facilities management under its Real Estate and Facilities Management department as part of a broader service review aimed at improving efficiency.
“Did we get what we bargained for when we tried to save money and consolidate services in 2011? No,” Digby said. “We lost all visibility for parks and recreation, compared to sewers and other areas of infrastructure need in the city.”
For park board commissioners, the stakes are clear: without substantial new funding, they warn, residents may begin to see more closures or service reductions across Vancouver’s parks and recreation network.
“Do people want to see Kits Pool closed? Britannia closed? Or have to take swim lessons in other municipalities?” Digby said.
“We’re not asking for anything the community isn’t already engaged in,” added Bastyovanszky, noting that many residents are feeling the impact of facility and parks disrepair, including difficulty finding available swimming lessons and sports fields.
The park board’s $1.35 billion capital plan proposal for 2027-30 includes $200 million for expansion of Britannia Community Centre in a collaboration with the Vancouver Canucks.
Here is how the $1.35 billion would be spent:$300 million for parks and open spaces
• Seawall and waterfront repairs due to storm tides
• Stump removal, new and replacement trees and pruning in the city’s urban forests and natural areas
• New parks, including Burrard Slopes, a second phase for East Park and four others
• Park renewals in John Hendry, Strathcona, Columbia, Delamont parks and others
• Parkland acquisition in the Broadway plan area, Rupert-Renfrew, the future UBC extension corridor and other “opportunistic purchases”
• Concrete pool replacements in favour of recirculating spray parks
• Playground renewals and updates, including an inclusive play area at Memorial South
• Sports court and skate park repairs and upgrades and a new lacrosse box
• New synthetic turf at Beaconsfield, Columbia and Oak Park; six synthetic turf replacements at Trillium, Memorial South, Jericho and Empire fields; and capital maintenance of 155 grass fields and ball diamonds
• Maintenance of new competition facilities at Killarney Park and Kerrisdale-Point Grey Secondary
• Six new and renewed off-leash dog parks in Mount Pleasant, Grandview-Woodland, Kitsilano West and John Hendry (Trout Lake)
• Stanley Park bike lane and roof repairs for park buildings
• 11 new and renewed washrooms, including at Everette Crowley Park
$50 million for biodiversity restoration projects
• Return Stanley Park Lagoon to an intertidal estuary
• Biodiversity recovery for Beaver Lake in Stanley Park
• Flood protection and biodiversity recovery in Still Creek and Renfrew Ravine watershed
• Protection of the trail system in Champlain Heights
• Invasive management in Musqueam Park Forest
$200 million for aquatic facilities
• Replacement of the Kitsilano Pool
• Planning for a new 50-metre pool, and community pools
$200 million for community centres
• Community centre renewals prioritizing Hastings, Kensington and Renfrew
• Maintenance of all other community centres
$300 million for Britannia Community Centre
• In collaboration with the Canucks, upgrades and renewal of Britannia including enhanced ice rink facilities, the swimming pool and community centre spaces
• Additional funding would come from the Canucks, the province and other sources
$100 million for government-partnered programs
• Renewal of RayCam Co-operative Centre, with B.C. Housing
• Upgrades to West End Community Hub and Strathcona Community Centre, both of which need support from the Vancouver school board
$200 million for planning and in-kind support of developer-led projects
• New Northeast False Creek community centre and skating rink
• New Fraser River District community centre
The park board also envisions providing planning support for community-led capital projects at facilities operated by partners, including Van Dusen Gardens, Bloedel Conservatory, Jericho Sailing Centre, Burrard Marina, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens and others. No price tag was associated with supporting those projects.
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