The Vancouver GREEN Party’s vision for our parks and recreation system
Vancouver’s natural beauty is worth protecting. Our children not only need places to play, but also places to enjoy and explore nature. We all need places of tranquil refuge from our busy lives. The animals and birds that help make our city lives enjoyable need places to nest and raise their young. People and nature in balance is the Vancouver Green Party’s vision for our parks and recreation system.
For too long our recreational facilities have been neglected: outdoor pools have been closed due to neglect; community centres have deteriorated from neglect; and too little money has been reinvested when there was no choice but to upgrade. We can’t afford to lose what we have. The Vancouver Green Party believes in re-investing in and rebuilding where necessary our aging infrastructure to protect and enhance our neighbourhoods. We need to return natural species to our green spaces and be a shining example of conservation.
What the Green Party of Vancouver believes:
- Parks as Parks. End commercialization of public spaces. Preserve the unique natures of Stanley, Queen Elizabeth and Hastings Parks.
- Sharing Spaces. Athletics and general users must share space. Dog owners and others must be respectful of the rules. School Board and Park Board must work together to enhance public spaces and access
- Accountability. Public input is important and decisions of the PB must be transparent
- Re-investment. Infrastructure must be renewed on an on going basis. Money must be put aside each budget for renewal
- Access. Public facilities must be accessible to all, regardless of income, mobility, or age.
Stuart will work toward:
- Working with all elected officials to move green initiatives forward
- Working with City Council to increase access and funding for public spaces
- Working with other levels of civic and regional governments to ensure best value for tax payers
- Working with community groups to ensure public input is maximized
- Working for stable long term funding for parks maintenance
People and Nature in balance—a vision for all.
INFRASTRUCTURE: renewing the past to secure our future
- Invest in neighbourhood facilities; accelerate the replacement of aging community centres
- Renew Kerrisdale Arena and pool; re-build an outdoor pool in Mt. Pleasant
- Continue to work with other levels of government on a seniors centre in the southeast sector
- Careful management and overseeing of new facilities to ensure that they are built to last
- Strengthening local decision making and management of facilities and parks to build strong neighbourhoods
- Expand the network of safe, clean, public washrooms throughout the city
PUBLIC SPACES: where our communities meet to play and relax
- All facilities, whether indoor or outdoor, must be accessible to all Vancouverites. Investing now means savings later
- Hastings Park as a park. Increase greens space through out the area
- Continue the development of a ‘master plan’ for John Hendry/Trout Lake park
- Encourage more Arts and Cultural events in our public spaces, especially in local neighbourhood facilities, to foster community spirit
- Quantify existing area of paved parkland and establish a no net gain policy. Any additional pavement will require removal of an equal area. Seek opportunities to remove paved area or reclaim for alternate uses such as roller hockey, skateboarding, tennis, basketball, etc.
- Re-examine the ‘destination’ emphasis in Park Board policy—encourage strengthening of our neighbourhoods.
- Increased cooperation with the City and Vancouver School Board to better manage fields and recreational facilities
ECOLOGY: the future of our children depends on our decisions today
- Restore the maintenance budget of parks and gardens
- A parks plan that protects green space and access to nature
- A focus on service not commercialization
- Water conservation measures in all parks and recreation facilities
- Expand the planting of native species in all public spaces
- Enhance and expand the trees on boulevard program
- Daylight streams that used to flow through parks where ever possible
- Offer healthier choices at Park Board concession
- Seeking Salmon Safe Certification for all parks
STANLEY PARK: a unique natural asset worth protecting
- Develop and implement a comprehensive stewardship plan for Stanley Park
- Implement ‘car-free’ Sundays once a month
- Promote ecotourism and interpretive services within the park
- Encourage the use of smaller, alternate fuel tour buses
- End the continuing erosion of the park by commercial enterprise