New park opens in South Vancouver

A new park opened in Vancouver’s River District on Saturday.

The recreational space is 3,000 square metres and borders East Sawmill Crescent and Marine Way, near the Fraser River.

Temporarily named Promontory Park, the Vancouver Park Board says the park features a new playground, grassy areas, pathways and planting areas, and a giant bird slide.

The Vancouver Park Board says an official name will be identified through the park naming process at a later date.

???? *New park alert!* Today, we’re thrilled to open a new park in East Fraser Lands. 
  
In the southeast corner of Vancouver, Promontory Park* will serve this growing neighbourhood and form a vital green space connection from the Champlain Heights community to the riverfront. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/aSX6B9OMQG

— Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) December 23, 2023

The park board currently looks after 250 public parks and beaches in Vancouver. The addition of this park to the city’s roster comes as Mayor Ken Sim recently announced his bid to get rid of the park board.

Amid backlash from park board members and Vancouver residents, Sim told CityNews his decision will not affect the jobs of city staff or the amount of parkland in the city.

“I want to be very clear, as long as I’m mayor, parks will always be parks in the City of Vancouver,” Sim said.

Despite the criticism, Sim says he plans to forge ahead with his decision to dismantle the board.

-With files from Cole Schisler