Vancouver Park Board commissioners are set to decide on whether to move forward with plans to revitalize the city’s West End waterfront.
The plan, titled the Imagine West End Waterfront Parks, Beaches and Transportation Vision project, has been in the works since 2021. It aims to address the growing needs of several parks in the 95-acre stretch, and is going to the board for a vote Monday night.
Commissioners are being asked to move forward with the project and to direct staff to begin with Phase 1 of the vision, in coordination with the city’s Engineering Services Department.
“The West End waterfront is a cherished place of meeting, gathering, and social vibrancy for residents and visitors from the region and around the world. It is one of the assets of Vancouver that makes the city unique and wonderful. Imagine West End Waterfront is a long-term vision for the area’s parks, beaches and transportation network. It aims to address the pressures facing the West End waterfront, which include climate change, ever-increasing visitation, and the need to provide services for a West End population that will continue to grow dramatically over the next 30 years,” the motion reads.
The vision is broken down into seven phases. The first of these would be funded through the city’s 2023-26 capital plan, with the motion estimating it will cost $16 million.
“In the near term, Phase 1 delivers a highly visible component of the Vision where the commercial edge of the West End meets the beach, supporting the local economy and the high number of visitors and tour buses who flock to this area year-round,” the motion explains.
“This phase addresses the immediate need to improve the intersection of Denman and Davie Streets,
and transform Morton Park into a greener and more contiguous park space. It will return two-way vehicular movement to Beach Ave west of Denman, in preparation for the extension of future public transit to Stanley Park.”