9. The City is currently moving ahead with the dissolution of the elected Park Board. How do you think Vancouver’s parks should be governed and stewarded?
Karin LITZCKE (101) - I would likely prefer a dedicated Park Board, because the complexity of park decisions requires expertise and interest that is distinct from city governance. But, if this decision is made, then I see a much stronger role for neighbourhood associations in the governance of parks.
Jeanifer DECENA (106) - Vancouver’s parks are unique, and that’s why we must keep the Park Board as a separate governing body. Unlike many other cities, Vancouver has large-scale parks like Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, and Pacific Spirit Park, which require dedicated management and long-term environmental stewardship.
If the Park Board is dissolved, park management will become just another city department, competing for budget and attention alongside infrastructure, policing, and housing. This could lead to:
- Reduced funding for park maintenance – Without a dedicated board, parks could be neglected, leading to deteriorating green spaces and fewer community programs.
- Risk of commercialization – Without proper oversight, there’s a risk that public parks could be leased or privatized for corporate use, reducing free and open access for the public.
- Loss of dedicated environmental protection – The Park Board ensures that parks remain sustainable, well-maintained, and ecologically protected. Without it, there’s a risk of weakened environmental commitments.
Instead of dissolving the Park Board, we should be strengthening it—ensuring it has the funding, staff, and resources to manage our city’s incredible green spaces effectively.
- Improve lighting and safety measures
- Enhance park programming and maintenance
- Expand green spaces and environmental sustainability projects
Additionally, parks must be well-lit at night to:
- Prevent Crime & Violence – Many parks become unsafe after dark due to poor lighting, making them hotspots for criminal activity.
- Reduce Littering & Vandalism – Well-lit areas encourage better public behavior and discourage illegal dumping or graffiti.
- Extend Accessibility – People should feel safe using parks in the evening, whether for exercise, commuting, or social gatherings.
- Parks are not just recreational spaces—they are essential for mental health, social well-being, and environmental conservation.
They deserve dedicated oversight and proper funding to remain a central part of Vancouver’s identity.
Sean ORR (108) - COPE strongly opposes Ken Sim’s unilateral attempt to abolish the democratically-elected Park Board. I will fight to defend the Park Board local democracy, because our democratic institutions matter. This will mean that it’s easier for city council to sell off our public parks and amenities to investors and billionaires, instead of needing support of both the Park Board and City Council. Sim promised to protect more temporary parks and make them permanent under this plan, but Ken Sim could do that now with council alone. Why doesn’t he?
Ken Sim is backed by billionaires and landowners. He attacked the Integrity Commissioner. He was willing to split his own party just to push ahead with breaking his word on the Park Board. Why?
ABC cannot be trusted with our Parks or our City. Vancouver is overdue for major investments in our social infrastructure, especially our pools and community centres. Quality recreation facilities keep us healthier and build the social connections that help us lead fulfilling lives and care for the environment that sustains us. With housing costs rising, we need affordable and accessible programs more than ever.
Ken Sim says scrapping the Park Board will save $70 million over the next decade. That’s $7 million per year. The annual operating budget for the City of Vancouver is over $1 billion and the 4 year Capital Plan for infrastructure is about 1.4 billion or 350 million per year. At 0.7% of the budget, $7 million is comparatively a drop in the bucket compared to the VPD swallowing up almost 21% of the budget. That’s been increased by almost $100 million per year since the VPU helped Ken Sim to win.
And many of the quoted “efficiencies” do not require elimination of the elected Park Board. A significant number of the identified issues are Engineering. They only require better communication and cooperation between the Park Board and Council.
- Keeping our parks, beaches, and green spaces beautiful, serene and safe by expanding and improving maintenance, garbage pickup, and ecologically sound management, actively enforcing bylaws, and increasing the number of park rangers and lifeguards
- Ensuring access and safety across parks and facilities, including for the elderly, for the disabled and for families who need convenient vehicle access – such as restoring pre-COVID access to Stanley Park and Beach Avenue – while also allowing new alternative infrastructure for cycling and walking without impeding vehicles
- Assessing and planning for the impact of climate change on Vancouver’s parks and recreation system, including our beaches and seawalls, minimizing tree removal in Stanley Park through independent and documented individual tree assessments and risk analysis, and protecting and expanding the tree canopy across the city to provide shade and to support urban wildlife and ecology
- Advocating and planning for new parks and recreation facilities as our population grows, with the aim towards providing the ratio of 1.1 ha of parks per 1000 people, and ensuring the Park Board has independent planning, operations, equipment, and maintenance resources to do so
- Providing safe park spaces for off-leash dogs that are within walking distance in all neighbourhoods
- Supporting local community centre associations and their roles in the joint operation of community centre facilities
List of Questions
- What is your favourite public space in the city – park, plaza, street, community centre, library, etc – and why?
- What role do you think public space should play regarding reconciliation?
- If you could bring one new thing to the Council table on the topics of public safety and wellbeing in the Downtown Eastside, what would it be?
- How important is the democratic function of public space to you? How would you ensure public spaces like parks and plazas are accessible and inclusive?
- What piece of public art do you like the most? How satisfied are you with the City’s approach to public art? Is there anything you would change?
- How do climate matters align with your public space priorities?
- What will you do to support our ‘main streets’ and shopping areas?
- What are your thoughts on the implementation of Council’s ‘road reallocation’ direction? Would you change anything?
- How do you think Vancouver’s parks should be governed and stewarded?
- Does the City do enough to fund placemaking and public space initiatives? Is there anything you would do differently?