Vancouver park board jacks up dispute against City Hall with letter to mayor

Illustration of the new Vancouver Aquatic Centre proposed to replace the aging 51-year-old facility on Beach Avenue in Vancouver's West End. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

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The Vancouver park board has sent a letter demanding that Mayor Ken Sim and city council stop making promises about spending plans concerning projects on park land.

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The letter includes a legal opinion affirming that the park board is the sole legal body empowered to make decisions on how park property will be used, including improvements to infrastructure.

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Park board commissioner Tom Digby said the mayor has been making commitments about projects that are not included in the park board’s own plans, leading to confusion that may affect how the public votes on an infrastructure capital referendum on the ballot in the coming civic election.

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While both the city and the park board have promised to address aging infrastructure, including pools and community centres, and the park board has requested $1.43 billion from the city to fund the work, there appears to be a disconnect on which projects are priorities.

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The park board has approved new pools for Mount Pleasant and Marpole, renewals of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, and improvements to Kitsilano pool, and overhauls of Kensington and Hastings community centres among their priorities.

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In May, the mayor announced a 25-metre pool at Sunset Park, and identified five community centres as priorities for renewal, including Kerrisdale, Dunbar and the Roundhouse, none of which are among the park board’s priorities.

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Digby said the park board is not disputing the city’s right to set the budget it can afford for parks in its upcoming 2027-2030 capital plan, due to be made public in late July.

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“The mayor can cross stuff off he doesn’t want to pay for, but he can’t just add stuff in,” said Digby. “The mayor has been making statements about certain swimming pools and community centres, stating affirmatively they are going to be included in the plan.”

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Former Vancouver Councillor Adriane Carr (left) talks with Brennan Bastyovanszky and Tom Digby prior to a park board meeting on December 11, 2023. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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In a statement, the mayor’s office said, “We have received the letter from Commissioner Digby. The letter and opinion affirm council’s exclusive role in determining funding for capital projects. Mayor Sim and council will continue to communicate their funding priorities.”

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Digby said the park board has repeatedly asked for a meeting with the mayor to discuss priorities, without success.

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Digby called the matter a betrayal of public trust that could lead to confusion among voters in the fall, and he is seeking clarity on which park board infrastructure and amenities will be identified as part of the plan voters get to weigh in on in the coming municipal election

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“We need the public to vote on this capital plan, including the size of the budget and the specific projects included in that,” said Digby.

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Under the Vancouver Charter, the park board has exclusive jurisdiction and control over Vancouver parks, including the right to determine improvements to recreational facilities within the parks, unless there is legislative change.