The VPSN is hosting two workshops on the West End Waterfront (Nov 18) and the Vancouver Plan (Nov 25), and there are other lectures, surveys and events being held on the surveillance of urban spaces, the Jericho Lands and Broadway Plan, as well as the design of the Kitsilano Beach Seaside Greenway, the St. George Rainway, and the redesign of Chinatown Memorial Square.

Sign up to one or more of these activities and get involved. Share your voice and help put public space at the centre of city-building!

UPCOMING VPSN WORKSHOPS

West End Waterfront – Public Space Workshop | Thursday, November 18 @ 5:30-7:00pm

Interested in the future of the West End waterfront? The City of Vancouver is beginning a planning process to create a comprehensive long-term vision and plan for the West End’s waterfront parks, beaches, facilities, and the surrounding street network.

The first of our two VPSN public space workshops this month focuses on the WE Waterfront process. This session is an opportunity learn more about the project from City staff and the engagement team, and share your early thoughts on the future of this important and popular network of public spaces.

The session will last just over an hour, and will include a presentation and opportunities for dialogue. The event is free and takes place online.

:: Register - VPSN West End Waterfront Workshop

The Vancouver Plan – Public Space Workshop | Thursday, November 25 @ 7:00-8:30pm

In 2018, the City of Vancouver began a comprehensive city-wide planning process known as the “Vancouver Plan.” Now, after about 18 months, the City is sharing a series of ‘emerging directions’ as part of their Fall 2021 engagement activity.

The Vancouver Public Space Network has arranged a special workshop to take a closer look at a planning effort that will ultimately provide a city-wide framework for growth and change for the next 30 years and beyond.

What is the role of parks, plazas, streets and other types of spaces as part of the Vancouver Plan? How can we ensure that public space plays a central role in the livability of the city? Are there ways to strengthen the Vancouver’s network of spaces so that they are more equitable, resilient, and responsive to the needs of all residents?

This session will include a presentation on the Vancouver Plan directions, as well as an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on how the Plan can ensure the best possible public space for present and future community members.

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OTHER PUBLIC SPACE EVENTS & ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Mundane Surveillance: Technologies, Data, and the New Regulation of Urban Space | November 16 @ 1:00-2:30pm

Cities have repeatedly turned toward forms of entrepreneurial urbanism and technological solutionism marketed by the private sector. From Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to smart cities, each generation of these devices promises to revitalize cities and “improve” their governance. This talk by Debra Mackinnon (University of Windsor) examines the mobility and use of geospatial applications, platforms and smart security initiatives by BIDs in Vancouver, Toronto, New York and London. Focused on their potential to limit accountability, deepen systemic racism and further corporatize service delivery, this research traces and theorizes how these technologies are used to police, account for, render, and manage urban space and populations. Presented by Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Simon Fraser University.

:: Register via Eventbrite

Jericho Lands Site Options – Survey | Deadline: Sunday, November 21

The Jericho Lands is a 36-hectare (90-acre) site located in Vancouver’s West Point Grey neighbourhood and is bound by West 4th Avenue, Highbury Street, West 8th Avenue, and West Point Grey Park. A planning program is underway – with a goal of creating a policy statement to guide future development of the site.

Recently, the landowners’ design team, working in consultation with City staff, shared two conceptual site options of how ʔəy ̓alməxʷ / Iy ̓álmexw / the Jericho Lands could look in the future. A survey is now available that allows you to share input on these site options.

:: More info and to complete the Jericho Lands survey

Kitsilano Beach Park Seaside Greenway Improvements – Survey | Deadline: Sunday, November 21

The Seaside Greenway in and adjacent to Kitsilano Beach Park is one of the most popular sections of the City’s walking, rolling, and cycling network. Currently, there is a shared path within the park for people walking, rolling, and cycling, and a temporary protected bike path through the south parking lot of the park. The Park Board is currently exploring options to develop a separated cycling path that connects Balsam Street to Ogden Avenue across the park – with a goal of finding a solution that creates a safer and more comfortable route for all users, including children, families, and people with reduced mobility while reducing conflicts between park users.

After initial engagement in August, the Park Board has developed different options for cycle path routes(External link). This survey provides an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on how well each of the design options reflect the values of greenspace, connections, directness, parking, and impact, and help identify a preferred route for the cycling path.

:: For more information on Kitsilano Beach Seaside Greenway and to take the survey

Broadway Plan – Public Life Workshop | Wednesday, November 24 @ 6:00-8:00pm

In March 2019, the City of Vancouver launched multi-phase planning process to create a comprehensive Broadway Plan to integrate opportunities for new housing, jobs and amenities around the new Broadway Subway. The plan will guide future growth, change and public benefits within the Broadway Plan study area, roughly from Clark Drive to Vine Street.

Help shape the future public life in Kitsilano, Fairview and Mount Pleasant by being part of the Broadway Plan Public Life Workshop on November 24, where you can learn about the draft public realm framework, and transportation policies. What do you think of the proposed public space directions? Are there opportunities to better support walking/rolling, biking and public gathering?

:: Register for the Broadway Plan public life workshop
:: More information on the Broadway Plan

St. George Rainway Phase 3: Concept Designs – Survey | Deadline: Sunday, November 28

The City of Vancouver has developed conceptual plans for a Rainway along St. George St between Broadway and 5th Ave that will honour a historic stream. Rainways are a multi-block area that use green rainwater infrastructure with great spaces for walking, rolling and cycling to support sustainable transportation.

As part of this process, four transportation design options and three green rainwater infrastructure concepts have been prepared based on the ideas and feedback shared by the community in previous phases of engagement.

:: Share your thoughts on the St. George Rainway options

Chinatown Memorial Square Redesign | 唐人街紀念廣場重新設計 – Survey | Deadline: Monday, November 29

Chinatown Memorial Square is located in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown at the corner of Keefer Street and Columbia Street. This valued public space hosts important community events such as the Remembrance Day ceremony, and draws many visitors to the neighbourhood where they can learn about the contributions of Chinese people in Canada. It also provides a space for community members to honour their culture and traditions.

The City is looking to improve Chinatown Memorial Square as an accessible public space while developing a design that enhances its culture and history. An online survey allows you to share your ideas for the redesign process.

:: For more information or to take the survey – Chinatown Memorial Square webpage

Communities of all sizes are actively preserving waterfront space for public use. Beaches and waterfront parks are a versatile and robust asset, valued for their beauty, their role in providing shoreline habitat, their cultural and recreational opportunities, and as a threshold – and potential barrier – against rising sea levels and storm surges.

Balancing these different uses is important – and enables a diverse array of patrons to enjoy the space while ensuring that a variety of other functions are maintained. It’s amazing that these natural spaces can play host to so many different activities: a place families and friends to gather, a venue for large events (eg: concerts, festivals or fireworks), small scale team sports and tournaments, bird watching, swimming, sailing regattas and dragon boat races, picnics, people watching… the list goes on and on.

Vancouver has a long tradition of securing waterfront space for new parks – by purchasing land for new parks, through the development process (where greenspace is achieved in exchange for development rights), and also through advocacy from community groups (CRAB park is a notable example here).

In this article, we highlight two examples of prominent beachfront assets – one in Vancouver, and one across the Inlet in West Vancouver.

Vancouver: Kitsilano Beach Park (and beyond)

Photo by JeffryV

Kitsilano Beach Park is one of the historic beach green-spaces in Metro Vancouver. It is known as Xwupxpay’em in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) language. It was also, as part of the early settler history of the area, known as “Greer’s Beach” – after homesteader Sam Greer, who farmed in the area in the late 1880s. Around this time, in the mid to late 19th century, when transportation options were more limited, it was used for camping. (As a side note, you can read about Greer’s fight with the CPR to keep the property here).

Once the street car was introduced to Kitsilano in 1905, the beach became a far more popular destination for Vancouverites. Initially, building on its earlier recreational use, it served as a “tent town” offering rustic camping – though that was discontinued owing to sanitation concerns. As the area became more settled, a greater array of conventional park amenities were added over the years – including, in 1931, the famous Kits pool (the largest open air pool in North America).

Decades later it was used as a training ground for Canadian soldiers, shortly before D-day – during the Second World War.

Today, Kits Beach offers a myriad of activities and amenities: tennis and basketball courts, a swimming raft with lifeguards from May to September, the aforementioned outdoor pool (recently refurbished), outdoor stage, and path to a dog friendly beach – all connected by the Seaside Greenway. Another feature is the accessible playground, that is fun for all ages, and an excellent addition to the surrounding community. A full-service, though privately run, restaurant and concession stand offers the opportunity to enjoy a drink or meal, soak in the sea breeze, and do some people-watching.

Moreover, Kitsilano Beach is actually part of a long ‘necklace’ of greenspaces that stretch further east (along the Seawall to Vanier Park) and west (along the Seaside Greenway, past a series of smaller neighbourhood parks, to Jericho and Locarno Beach parks at the west end of the city.

For all its popularity – or perhaps as a result of it, Kits park has had its fair share of controversies over the past few years. In 2010, the relocation and development of the playground faced opposition from users who wanted to keep it in a quieter and more shaded location, further north in the park.

Most notably, there is an ongoing debate around cycling in and adjacent to the park – which first emerged in a 2013/4 proposal (and subsequent revisions) to connect the Seaside Greenway (and seawall) through Hadden Park, to the east, and into Kitsilano Beach park.

More recently, other proposed improvements to cycling routes through the park have generated further debate. The current path is very busy, and has led to concerns about pedestrian and cyclist conflict, so options have been developed that would separate cycling and walking routes. However, when routing options were presented to the Park Board earlier this year, a majority of Commissioners voted to defer a decision on how to proceed.

Finding the best final solution to the path design will be a balancing act between the needs of local residents and beach users requiring parking, bike path users, pedestrian safety requirements and green space retention. The preliminary Parks Board Design options can be viewed in the appendix to the Parks Board minutes.

All of which shows that creating effective multi-use facilities – especially when they are to be located in popular destinations like Kitsilano Beach – can be a complex balancing act. Controversies aside, Kits Beach is a prime example of the richness and diversity that comes with well-designed beachfront parks. Its many different uses continues to attract people in large numbers. Little wonder that it is frequently cited as one of the best beaches in the world.

Ambleside and Dundarave Parks, West Vancouver

Like Vancouver, West Vancouver has put considerable effort into creating attractive beachfront space, and recent planning work has further improved their network of waterfront parks.

West Vancouver has created its own ‘necklace’ of greenspaces along the north side of the Burrard Inlet. Two larger parks, Ambleside and Dundarave, serve as larger destination anchors, while the space in between is home to smaller parks and spaces that include picnic tables, playgrounds, a waterpark, duck ponds, sports fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, beach volleyball, a pier, and a skatepark. A trail system provides a continuous walking path to link these areas together, running from roughly the Lions Gate Bridge, past Ambleside, and all the way to Dundarave. Additional beachside amenities include concession stands, showers, washrooms and parking.

The Ambleside end of the park network also includes a 3.5 acre off leash dog area, with grassy meadows and water access. Large open spaces enable the park to serve as a venue for hosting major outdoor concerts and festivals. Travelling westward, you pass the sailing centre and old Ferry Building art gallery, before arriving at, first, Millenium Park, and then John Lawson Park.

The latter offers: a children’s play areas, a spray park, and picnic areas. The pirate inspired playground was one of nine notable playgrounds, written about in the April 2016 edition of Today’s Parent Magazine. The park area is a multi-functional space that attracts young and old alike. For ten days every summer, it also hosts the Harmony Arts Festival, an extravaganza of art and food vendors.

Renewal of this series of beach front spaces was undertaken in 2016, and initiated through the District of West Vancouver’s Ambleside Waterfront Concept Plan. With concepts taken from the West Vancouver Official Community Plan, eleven guiding principles were created by the community and used to create a vision for the network of parks and beaches. Goals included: improving water access, completing the seawall walking path, increasing and renewing art spaces, respecting heritage, and including the sailing centre in the plans. The full concept plans can be seen here.

The scale of this approach is sensible, helping the individual parks to be treated as part of a larger, interconnected waterfront system. By doing this, attention can be made to creating a connected waterfront ‘experience.’ In practical terms, the approach also means that important waterfronts are collectively enriched with new public amenities, the foreshore is retained, pedestrian and cycling facilities are enhanced, and other traffic conflicts in the area are reduced. The district of West Vancouver should be proud of its success, in improving beachfront assets and making them more vibrant.

Anke Hurt is a recent graduate of the Langara Community Planning Program, a resident of Vancouver, and enjoys kayaking and walking on the Lower Mainland beaches.