--- title: "Parks, Forests and Trees: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/2026-platform/parks-and-recreation/parks-forests-and-trees" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:01:02.604Z" meta: description: "Vote Vancouver would protect the Champlain Heights forest and trails, fund care of local green spaces, keep Vancouver's 30% tree canopy target while measur..." "og:description": "Vote Vancouver would protect the Champlain Heights forest and trails, fund care of local green spaces, keep Vancouver's 30% tree canopy target while measur..." "og:title": "Parks, Forests and Trees: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" "twitter:description": "Vote Vancouver would protect the Champlain Heights forest and trails, fund care of local green spaces, keep Vancouver's 30% tree canopy target while measur..." "twitter:title": "Parks, Forests and Trees: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" --- ** Vote Vancouver · Vancouver 2026 # Vote Vancouver on green space: Champlain Heights forest and a 30% tree canopy Vote Vancouver would protect the Champlain Heights forest and trails, fund care of local green spaces, keep Vancouver's 30% tree canopy target while measuring mature and new trees apart, invest in the urban forest, and set clear upkeep standards for parks, beaches, trails and recreation sites. All 5 commitments [Read page 31 of the PDF ](https://votevancouver.ca/s/VV-PolicyPriorities_260915.pdf#page=31) [**12**Candidates](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/candidates) [**10/10**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/platform) [**6**Sources on file](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/money) **9**Questions answered PARKS AND RECREATION · PAGE 31 ## Parks, Forests and Trees: what the Policy Priorities says The second half of Vote Vancouver's parks list is about green space and upkeep. It names one place: the Champlain Heights forest and trail network, which the party would protect. The party would give dedicated city funding to the care of local green spaces, which it calls environmental stewardship. It would keep what it describes as Vancouver's 30% tree canopy target. Tree canopy is the share of the city's land covered by tree tops when seen from above. The party would measure mature canopy and newly planted trees separately, so that new young trees are counted on their own. It would also invest in the long-term health of the urban forest, meaning all the trees across the city. Its last item would set clear standards for maintaining parks, beaches, trails and recreation facilities. The Park Board controls parks and beaches, so it would carry out most of these steps. Dedicated city funding for green space would need money in the budget that Council approves. THE PARTY'S NUMBERS ## Figures in this chapter **30%** Tree canopy target the party says Vancouver has and would keep The party's figure, page 31 5 COMMITMENTS ## What the party says it would do 1. ### Protect the Champlain Heights forest and trails Vote Vancouver would protect the Champlain Heights forest and trail network.

Who has the power: Park Board The Park Board controls Vancouver's parks and the trails in them.
Source: Policy Priorities, page 31

2. ### Funding for green space stewardship The party would provide dedicated municipal funding for environmental stewardship of local green spaces.

Who has the power: City, with others Council approves the city budget that would hold this money, and the Park Board would spend it on parks.
Source: Policy Priorities, page 31

3. ### Keep the 30% tree canopy target Vote Vancouver would maintain Vancouver's 30% tree-canopy target while separately measuring mature canopy and newly planted trees.

Who has the power: Park Board The platform places this target in its parks plan, which the Park Board would carry out.
Source: Policy Priorities, page 31

4. ### Long-term health of the urban forest The party would invest in the long-term health of Vancouver's urban forest.

Who has the power: Park Board Tree care in parks is Park Board work, funded through the city budget.
Source: Policy Priorities, page 31

5. ### Upkeep standards for parks, beaches and trails Vote Vancouver would set clear standards for maintaining parks, beaches, trails and recreation facilities.

Who has the power: Park Board The Park Board runs parks, beaches and recreation facilities and sets how they are kept.
Source: Policy Priorities, page 31

WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT ## Where the power sits for this chapter Park Board4 City, with others1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ## Questions about parks, forests and trees

What would Vote Vancouver do for the Champlain Heights forest?

Vote Vancouver would protect the Champlain Heights forest and trail network (Policy Priorities, page 31).

What is Vote Vancouver's tree canopy target?

The party would keep what it calls Vancouver's 30% tree canopy target, and measure mature canopy and newly planted trees separately (Policy Priorities, page 31).

Would Vote Vancouver spend more on parks upkeep?

Vote Vancouver would give dedicated city funding to the care of local green spaces and set clear standards for maintaining parks, beaches, trails and recreation facilities (Policy Priorities, page 31).

What does Vote Vancouver promise for Vancouver's urban forest?

The party would invest in the long-term health of the urban forest and keep the 30% tree canopy target it says the city has (Policy Priorities, page 31).

Who looks after Vancouver's parks and beaches?

The separately elected Park Board controls parks and beaches, so it would carry out Vote Vancouver's green space plan. Council approves the city budget that would hold any new dedicated funding (Policy Priorities, page 31).

ON THE BALLOT ## The Vote Vancouver candidates behind this ### Park Board [200**Stephen Menon**Ballot 200](https://voche.me/candidates/stephen-menon) [210**Summit Wannamaker**Ballot 210](https://voche.me/candidates/summit-wannamaker) ## 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. 1. [Vote Vancouver Policy Priorities ](https://votevancouver.ca/s/VV-PolicyPriorities_260915.pdf#page=31)SAYS SO ITSELFVote Vancouver · pages 31 · checked September 22, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.