TEAM on recreation: a 50 metre pool, pre-COVID Stanley Park access and dog parks
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says the Vancouver Aquatic Centre replacement should include a 50 metre pool, that pre-COVID car access to Stanley Park and Beach Avenue should return, that every neighbourhood should have off-leash dog space within walking distance, and that community centres should be fully funded.
PARK BOARD
Access, Safety and Community Centres: what the Our Positions says
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says parks and recreation centres should be safe and easy to reach for everyone, including older people, people with disabilities and families who need to arrive by car. One promise is to restore the pre-COVID access to Stanley Park and Beach Avenue, while adding new space for cycling and walking that does not get in the way of vehicles. It would also work with the public and user groups to settle access to Stanley Park and its attractions.
On safety, TEAM would expand the park ranger program, keep lifeguards on beaches, fence parks beside busy roads, and discourage encampments in parks while working with the City and other governments on housing and services. Every neighbourhood would get a safe off-leash dog area within walking distance.
For recreation, TEAM would reconsider the Vancouver Aquatic Centre replacement so it includes a 50 metre pool, which it says voters approved in the capital plan, even if that means renovating the existing building. It would put local community centres first, approve new Joint Operating Agreements with Community Centre Associations in 2027, and fund every community centre in the yearly and long-term budgets. It would withdraw support for building housing above new community centres. The party's swimming lesson plan for every child appears in its schools chapter.
Commissioners control parks, community centres, pools and beaches, so most of these items are Park Board decisions. Park Board budgets, the capital plan and housing for people in encampments depend on Council and other governments.
THE PARTY'S NUMBERS
Figures in this chapter
Pool length TEAM wants in the Vancouver Aquatic Centre replacement
The party's figureYear the party says Joint Operating Agreements with Community Centre Associations come up for renewal
The party's figure13 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Settle Stanley Park access with the public and user groups
TEAM would resolve accessibility issues in Stanley Park in collaboration with the public and user groups, and make sure the park and its facilities, such as the Aquarium, restaurants and horse-drawn carriages, are accessible to everyone, including cyclists.
- Who has the power
- Park Board Stanley Park is run by the Park Board.
Restore pre-COVID access to Stanley Park and Beach Avenue
The party would ensure access and safety across parks and facilities for elderly people, people with disabilities and families who need convenient vehicle access, such as by restoring pre-COVID access to Stanley Park and Beach Avenue, while allowing new cycling and walking infrastructure that does not impede vehicles.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Roads in Stanley Park are under the Park Board, while Beach Avenue is a city street designed by Council's staff.
More park rangers, lifeguards and fencing near busy roads
TEAM would increase safety by expanding the park ranger program, keeping lifeguards on beaches and adding fencing to parks next to busy roads.
- Who has the power
- Park Board The Park Board employs park rangers and lifeguards and maintains its parks.
Off-leash dog areas within walking distance
The party would provide safe park spaces for off-leash dogs within walking distance in all neighbourhoods.
- Who has the power
- Park Board Dog areas are park land, which the Park Board plans and runs.
Discourage park encampments
TEAM would discourage park encampments so parks stay safe and accessible for everyone, while working with the City and other governments so parks are not used in place of the housing and services people need.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The Park Board controls park land, while shelter is funded by Council and housing and health services come mainly from the Province.
Put local recreation facilities first
The party would prioritize local neighbourhood community centres, recreation facilities, amenities, pools and parks to achieve walkable neighbourhoods with universal access.
- Who has the power
- Park Board The Park Board plans its facilities, with capital funding approved by Council.
No more regional-serving parks and facilities in the city
TEAM would avoid further development of parks and facilities that serve the whole region, except for replacing existing city-wide special use facilities such as the Vancouver Aquatic Centre.
- Who has the power
- Park Board The Park Board decides what kinds of facilities it builds.
A 50 metre pool in the Vancouver Aquatic Centre replacement
The party would reconsider the Vancouver Aquatic Centre replacement so it includes a 50 metre pool, as it says voters originally approved in the capital plan, including studying whether to renovate the existing building if that is the only way to keep a 50 metre pool.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The Park Board runs the pool, while the capital plan that pays for it is approved by Council.
Support Community Centre Associations and renew agreements in 2027
TEAM would support local Community Centre Associations (CCAs), the local associations the party says jointly operate community centres, and make sure the upcoming renewal of Joint Operating Agreements with all CCAs in 2027 and beyond is approved.
- Who has the power
- Park Board The Park Board approves the Joint Operating Agreements with each association.
Share facilities with schools and libraries
The party would encourage collaboration with schools and libraries on using their facilities for community centre programs.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Schools are run by the School Board, so the Park Board needs its agreement to use school space.
No housing above new community centres
TEAM would withdraw Park Board support for the City policy of building housing over new community centres, saying the space above may be needed to expand facilities as the city grows, in place of spreading over green space or buying new land.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The Park Board can withdraw its support, but the policy is the City's, so Council would decide whether to change it.
Plan community centre maintenance to save money
The party would plan community centre maintenance, upgrades, renovations and expansions that save money over the long term, in place of deferring maintenance until costly replacements are needed.
- Who has the power
- Park Board The Park Board maintains its community centres.
Steady funding for every community centre
TEAM would make sure the yearly and long-term operating budgets and the capital plan include established, ongoing funding for all existing community centres.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The Park Board prepares its budget, but Council approves the operating budget and capital plan.
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about access, safety and community centres
Does TEAM for a Livable Vancouver want a 50 metre pool at the Aquatic Centre?
Yes. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would reconsider the Vancouver Aquatic Centre replacement so it includes a 50 metre pool, as it says voters approved in the capital plan, even studying a renovation of the existing building if that is the only way to keep one (TEAM Parks and Recreation page).
Would TEAM reopen Stanley Park to cars?
TEAM says it would restore pre-COVID access to Stanley Park and Beach Avenue for elderly people, people with disabilities and families who need vehicle access, while allowing new cycling and walking infrastructure that does not impede vehicles (TEAM Parks and Recreation page).
What is TEAM's position on encampments in Vancouver parks?
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would discourage park encampments so parks are safe and accessible for everyone, while working with the City and other governments so parks are not used as a substitute for housing and services (TEAM Parks and Recreation page).
Would TEAM add more off-leash dog parks?
Yes. TEAM says it would provide safe off-leash dog spaces within walking distance in all neighbourhoods (TEAM Parks and Recreation page).
What would TEAM do for community centres?
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would support Community Centre Associations and approve the renewal of their Joint Operating Agreements in 2027, plan maintenance to avoid costly replacements, fund every existing centre on an ongoing basis, and withdraw support for housing above new community centres (TEAM Parks and Recreation page).
Does TEAM support teaching every child to swim?
Yes. TEAM says it would provide an integrated swimming and lifeguard training program so all Vancouver children learn to swim, working with qualified agencies and linking community centres and schools. Its schools page gives the fuller version of this promise (TEAM Parks and Recreation page).
ON THE BALLOT
The TEAM for a Livable Vancouver candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- TEAM parks and recreation, learn more SAYS SO ITSELFTEAM for a Livable Vancouver · checked