Fencing around Vancouver’s Strathcona Park coming down

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Fencing around Strathcona Park is coming down Tuesday as the Vancouver Park Board reopens its east side for public use.

Visitors will be able to safely access the outdoor track, off-leash dog area, Cottonwood community gardens, and more. The all-weather sports field at Strathcona Park will also reopen.

All other sports fields will remain closed for organized play, so the new turf can take root.

This April, fencing went up and over 180 people who were living in tents in the park had to move. Alternative shelter was arranged by BC Housing and the City of Vancouver. The province previously purchased three hotels to help accommodate those who were living in encampments in the city.

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The tent city in Strathcona Park was set up in June of 2020, soon after campers were forced out of two other city parks.

There’s still no sheltering in the park overnight, but Donnie Rosa with the general manager of Parks and Recreation, says they’re working with the community.

“We know there’s a lot of healing to do. We do have a parks control bylaw that says folks are allowed to shelter overnight and in many areas within the city, so there are options for people. They have to be mobile during the day,” they explained.

After the tents were taken down, the Park Board introduced a bylaw against leaving up tents or other temporary structures in parks throughout the day.

“We are programming with the community to make sure that we open this park in a way that is both healing and welcoming for the community,” Rosa said.

When the fence went up, the City of Vancouver said this was a “necessary next step to close the encampment in the park and return the park to community use.”

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