Opinion: A city that forgets its parks forgets its people

Vancouver’s parks and recreation system sees tens of millions of visits every year, including to the 28-kilometre seawall that draws millions of users annually, yet too often, the system is neglected, writes Spencer van Vloten. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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The most telling moments in a city are often the simplest ones. A child taking their first pedals on a bike. Seniors chatting under a shady tree. A group of friends volleying the ball over the net.

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The system also manages over 1,300 hectares of parkland and one of the most heavily used urban waterfronts in North America, including the 28-kilometre seawall that draws millions of users annually.

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It’s one of the most heavily used public systems in the province, perhaps the country, yet too often it’s neglected.

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Paths that should be easy to walk feel poorly lit or isolated. Washrooms are in poor condition or inaccessible. Playgrounds have equipment that is worn or overdue for renewal.

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According to a 2025 report, 72 per cent of recreation facilities are also in poor condition, with many community centres, pools and rinks in need of renewal or replacement, the costs of which rise each year the work is deferred.

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The same audit estimates a $33-million annual funding gap just for recreation facilities. This is part of a broader $500-million annual citywide infrastructure deficit.

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In some cases, facilities built in the 1960s and ’70s are still carrying the bulk of today’s demand, despite serving a population that has grown by tens of thousands in recent years.

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These are the expected consequences of years of underinvestment in a growing city where leadership hasn’t kept pace with infrastructure needs. Instead of working with the park board, the current mayor, Ken Sim, has worked to abolish it and seize its power for city council.

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While our parks and recreation spaces have been neglected for years, the risks are becoming especially great as summer approaches.

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Despite clear evidence that urban green space functions as critical cooling infrastructure, investment and canopy expansion haven’t kept pace with growing heat risks across the city. Neighbourhoods with lower tree canopy coverage experience significantly higher surface temperatures during heat events, with studies showing urban tree cover can reduce surrounding temperatures by several degrees.

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Vancouver has already seen the consequences. The 2021 heat dome was one of the deadliest weather events in Canadian history, with more than 600 people dying across B.C., largely in urban areas without adequate cooling, shade or access to resilient public space.

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With heat records already being broken in 2026, city funding for heat safety kits axed and another intense heat wave expected for summer, this is hardly a risk we can afford in a city where public spaces are meant to be part of the safety net.

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So, what needs to change?

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At the heart is a renewed commitment to the spaces that hold our communities together. That means long-term investment in parks and recreation infrastructure; more consistent and genuine engagement with park-users, sports organizations and community centre associations; transparent public reporting on park conditions and repair timelines; and stronger co-ordination between city leadership and park operations.