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

Summer’s here and the weekend is only a few hours away. Weather aside, things are lining up nicely for some seasonal fun in the city’s public realm. Ready, set, go!

A few quick updates about some upcoming activities that you may be interested in:

• Robson Square Summer Plaza – Update on the 800-block!
• Starting July 5 – Lunch Meet! Long Table Action on Abbot Street
• Transportation Plan – Public Space Ideas
• Grandview-Woodland Community Plan
• St. George Street Rainway – Street Mural Painting

Robson Square Summer Plaza – Jazzing up the 800-block is just the beginning!

For the second year in a row, the 800-block of Robson Street, between Hornby and Howe, will be closed to through traffic. Like the Granville Street pedestrian mall around the corner, the expanded Robson Square will play host to a variety of street level activities through to Labour Day.

The closure begins tomorrow, June 23, and coincides with the Jazz Fest (check out their schedule for an awesome selection of free shows at this site and elsewhere). A few weeks hence the installation of Pop Rocks – a very cool outdoor seating installation – will take place. And if that wasn’t enough, look for other fun activities – including VPSN-led laser graffiti, speakers’ corner and public karaoke installations – to animate the space over the coming months.

As many of you know, the VPSN is quite supportive of the expansion of Robson Square. Our survey last summer saw an overwhelming number of people support the creation of a larger public gathering area in this space… and the current closure gives us yet another opportunity to see how the space supports public life in the city.

That being said, we know that there are a lot of different opinions on the space… and we want to hear your side of things too. To this end, we’ll be doing some evaluation work throughout the summer.

Please take a moment to let us know what you think of the expanded space. Send your photos, ideas, thoughts, concerns and ideas our way – we want to hear from you!

:: Feedback – robsonsquare [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca

Starting July 5 – Lunch Meet! Long Table Action on Abbott Street

And speaking of street closures… can we invite you to lunch in July? LUNCH MEET is a new City-sponsored initiative that we’re running every Thursday of the month. The 300-block of Abbott Street will be transformed into a place for people, with a long table and music provided by local artists. Grab a bite to eat from a local business, food cart or bring your own lunch and meet a neighbour, friend or work colleague.

The event kicks off on July 5th and we’re looking for a team of volunteers to help with event-related activities. Most volunteer tasks are 1 hour in duration, and would take place from 10:30 am to 2pm.

:: Lend a hand – contact adam [at] vancouverpublicspace [dot] ca

Transportation 2040 Plan – Public Space Ideas

The City is in the process of updating their Transportation Plan. The new policy document, called Transportation 2040, will provide a vision for the next 30 years and guide transportation decision-making for the next 15 years.

The draft document has been released, and the City is looking for feedback on a range of ideas – everything from improvements to pedestrian areas, bike lanes, public transport and more. This is a great opportunity to weigh on a number of important ideas.

Among other things, there’s a chance to have your say on a few aspects specifically focused on public space. Including a series of strategies and actions around

• Enabling and encouraging creative uses of the street; and
• Creating public plazas and gathering spaces throughout the city.

You can read more on these and other ideas on the City’s webpage (see below). There’s also a survey you can complete in order to share your feedback.

Stay tuned for a VPSN event on these items as well. We’ve got a small event in the works right now and will be announcing details shortly.

:: City of Vancouver Transportation 2040 webpage

:: VPSN Transportation 2040 Activities – Info – quinn [at] vancouverpublicspace [dot] ca

Grandview-Woodland Community Plan

Are you a resident of the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood? Like to hang out on the Drive? Work in the hood?

Anyone interested in the future of G-W is invited to lend their voice to the Community Plan work that’s going on in the neighbourhood right now. There’s a Community Questionnaire and photo contest that is running through to the end of next week. Among the themes of planning work – public space (including parks, streetscapes and more).

:: City of Vancouver Grandview-Woodland Community Plan webpage

St. George Street Rainway – Street Mural Painting

The St. George Street Rainway Committee, the False Creek Watershed Society, the City of Vancouver Viva program and the Mount Pleasant Elementary School have partnered to create a street mural painting party and you are invited!

The community was consulted on the creation of this mural at various events and by door-to-door surveys (see a sample of this beautiful mural on the right!). Preliminary design work will happen on the 27th and on the 28th in the morning. Please join us on June 28 from 3:00 – 8:00 PM to paint the mural. The party will go from 6:00 – 8:00! Location: St.George Street, between E. 7^th and E 8^th Ave

:: More info – Shahirastgeorgerainway [at] gmail.com or City