Vancouver Park Board approves paid parking strategy

A vote of two in favor, two against, and three abstaining counts as a ‘yes’ to the park board on Monday.

The Vancouver Park Board approved a wide-ranging parking strategy that includes hourly parking rates at Kerrisdale, Trout Lake, and Hillcrest community centres.

“It’s just going to be an added cost and a barrier to access facilities,” said Angela Haer, a park board commissioner who voted against the motion.

Under a one-year pilot project, parking will be free for the first three hours, even in places where people can only park for three hours anyway.

But it is a time limit some seem to be ignoring.

“A problem is and what they said that a lot of people park here for the day,” said one resident.

Starting next year, after three free hours, parking will cost $3.50 for each additional hour.

People attending the Kerrisdale Community Centre have mixed feelings about the pilot.

“I think that makes sense. I mean, you don’t get anything for free in the world. If you’re using these facilities of the Community Centre, then I think that’s absolutely fair,” one resident shared with The Leader Spirit.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think there should be some things available for the public paid for by the taxes, and this is one of them,” said another resident.

The new park board strategy also includes a $25.00 fee to park at Van Dusen Gardens during the annual Festival of Lights Holiday event and a 12-month trial charging people to park at Langara Golf Course unless they’re golfing.

In a release from the park board chair, Laura Christiansen stated, “Paid parking where it makes sense can improve access and increase investments in the maintenance and renewal of our parks and recreation facilities.”

“But when you put a price on the parking lot, it might actually deter people from accessing the facility altogether,” explained Commissioner Haer.

Last summer, in an earlier pilot project, the board tried out a $1.00 an hour parking fee at Spanish Banks Beach. It became permanent in June this year.