Vancouver Park Board looks at paid parking for Trout Lake, Hillcrest community centres

It could cost Vancouverites more to park at some facilities run by the Board of Parks and Recreation in the near future.

Park Board commissioners heard a reccomendation by staff Monday for a new plan that will see paid parking implemented at Trout Lake and Hillcrest community centres this summer. Kerrisdale, Hastings, and New Brighton Park are also under the parking plan.

Meanwhile, VanDusen Botanical Garden and the Langara and Fraserview golf courses would see paid parking begin in the fall.

Commissioners directed staff to consult with partners for the summer and fall pilot implementation process for selected sites, and to report back with an implementation plan.

Speaking to commissioners on Monday night, one woman who shared that she uses the Kerrisdale facility daily said that the new cost for parking with be crushing for some.

“I’m looking at parking fees for two hours, an hour-and-a-half session and then time before and after, of between $42 and $139 a month,” she explained.

She added that many will reconsider using the facilities altogether.

“I pay $29 a month for the Flexipass, which I think is really a bargain and probably should be more expensive, but there’s no way I’m paying that parking,” she explained. “I cannot tell you how many senior people I’ve talked to at Kerrisdale in the last week and a half that have said they won’t be coming.”

The Park Board says the move will begin as a pilot project and will expand depending on what feedback it receives. According to the board, last year, $9.5 million of revenue was generated through paid parking lots, with the new pilot expected to bring in a further $3 million.

Another speaker, who is on the board of the Trout Lake Community Centre, echoed the woman’s concerns, saying he fears it will drive people away.

“People who work out multiple times a week need to pay for parking on top of their membership, making their total cost exceed that of a private gym, defeating the purpose of an accessible public center,” he explained.

According to the Park Board, the implementation of parking fees is “guided by three main goals: improve park user experience and access through upgraded assets, achieve financial sustainability with increased revenue generation, and support the operations and management of parking infrastructure.”

“As the population and desirability of Vancouver as a destination grows, demand for parking increases. In response, City staff have been expanding curbside paid parking and residential permit parking programs in many neighbourhoods of Vancouver. Public parking lots operated by Park Board include some of the largest without paid parking, with the consequence that many are in high demand with idling and limited access to parking, users parking for long periods to walk off site without using parks and recreation amenities, and other impacts,” the report to commissioners stated.

“The costs of ‘free’ parking are borne by all taxpayers, whether they drive a private vehicle or not. Paid parking connects some of the cost of parking to the users that directly benefit and generates revenue to reinvest in services that indirectly benefit everyone. It also generates revenue from non-residents who visit Vancouver’s parks and recreation facilities but do not pay taxes that support them. Paid parking, where it makes sense, can improve access and increase investment in community services, reducing the burden on taxpayers.”

A final vote and approval by commissioners will come at a later date when staff have finalized fee and implementation details.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article claimed that the plan was approved by Park Board commisioners Monday. In fact, approval is still pending.