Theres so much going on at the park board this week I had to write two versions of this column, one for print and this one for online.
The park board voted unanimously Monday night to oppose the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain crude oil pipeline. The expansion would triple the amount of oil transported through Burrard Inlet. In response, the park board took the unusual stand of speaking out against the proposal.
Vision Vancouver park board chair Constance Barnes told me the park board is absolutely opposed to the expansion, which would see an increased number of oil tankers travelling past 24-kilometres of waterfront along Burrard Inlet, English Bay and False Creek, as well as many beaches and parks such as Stanley Park.
In its motion, the park board notes it has invested in projects to restore the natural environments around this citys waterways, including the creation of a salt water marsh at New Brighton Park and the restoration of the Jericho Wharf area.
Barnes says theres just too much at risk to approve the expansion and adds the park board and city will soon be collaborating on a joint plan to publicly oppose the proposal.
Parking hike
Changes to the parking fees at some park board operated facilities or parks means it will cost more to park your vehicle.
At some locations pay parking will be in effect for more hours per day and will kick in a month earlier. Pay parking at parks and beaches operates on a summer and winter fee schedule, while the cost to park at community centres and street-front locations varies by location. The annual revenue generated from pay parking at park board operated locations is $4.5 million.
According to a staff report, this system has caused confusion. For example, the summer season for Stanley Park is defined as April 1 to Sept. 30, while at Queen Elizabeth Park its May 1 to Sept. 30. As well, the summer season hourly rate at Stanley Park is $3 an hour, while at the equally popular Kits Beach its $2.50. And while pay parking is in effect until midnight at locations such as Beach Avenue and Sunset Beach, at Stanley Park it ends at 9 p.m. in the summer.
To standardize pay parking at park board operated locations across the city, the following changes have been approved: summer rates will begin in April instead of May at Queen Elizabeth Plaza and Jericho and Kits beaches; pay parking will be in effect at Stanley Park from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round; the daily parking rate is being eliminated at some lots within Stanley Park including the Totem Poles, Brockton Point, Prospect Point, the Information Booth and the Tea House and Fish House restaurants, while the hourly rate will remain; and the summer rate of $2.50 an hour will increase to $3 at Jericho Beach, Beach Avenue, Kits Beach and Queen Elizabeth Plaza.
For more park board news read Central Park at vancourier.com.
Twitter: @sthomas10
