A petition against implementing pay parking at Vancouver’s Spanish Banks beach is gaining steam this week, with nearly 1,700 signatures Thursday evening.
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation had presented a report on April 8 with a recommendation that pay parking be implemented at the popular beach, saying it is currently the only beach in the city not to charge for parking.
The report says the free lots cause disruption to the neighbourhood, especially in the summertime.
But charging for parking at the beach could be a barrier to access the area, particularly for those with lower incomes, according to the petition’s Change.org page, which is organized by a group that calls itself “Vancouver Beach Lovers 2.”
“We, the undersigned, urge the Park Board to reconsider this means of revenue, which has never been there before,” the petition reads.
“We feel that the parks budget should be maintained on the same basis it has been for all the years Spanish Banks has not had parking fees.”
But not all Parks Board commissioners are in favour of the change.
“I live there, so I’m [probably] not going to … support this,” Commissioner Angela Haer said. “I’m just letting you know right now.”
Haer speaking at a park board meeting last week says she thinks implementing pay parking in the area would backfire.
“Neighbours are not able to find parking in front of their houses, etc., so that’s already an issue,” she said.
“My concern is once you introduce pay parking, that’s going to be even more of a concern.”
Haer isn’t the only commissioner to speak out.
“This is going to cause a riot, right?,” Commissioner Tom Digby said.
“Is there any way you could charge like a buck for three hours, or does it have to be $5.75 for the first hour?,” he said.
Haer says the cost of living is already too high, and this won’t make things any better.
“Prices have gone up; people can’t afford to live,” she said.
In the report, the Parks Board asks city staff to respond to their request to add pay parking to Spanish Banks by 2024’s second quarter.