The following is reprinted from a Park Board info bulletin. https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/paid-parking-to-be-trialled-at-spanish-banks-beach-this-summer-may-2024.aspx
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Paid parking to be trialled at Spanish Banks this summer
May 7 2024 –
Visitors driving to Spanish Banks Beach this summer will pay a $1/hour parking fee, as part of plans to alleviate traffic and parking concerns at one of Vancouver’s busiest destination beaches.
At last night’s Board meeting, commissioners approved a recommendation from staff PDF file (1.3 KB) to implement the new fee at parking lots within Spanish Banks Beach Park for a 12-month pilot period beginning this July. The $1/hour fee will be in effect during peak season (May-September), with staff working with the City’s Engineering Services to determine a reduced charge for the off-season.
As the only destination beach or park in the Park Board network currently without paid parking, Spanish Banks experiences a number of issues during peak season both in the beach parking lots and surrounding road network.
Staff advised that paid parking at this location would help alleviate traffic and parking concerns and minimize unnecessary searching for parking that contributes to congestion, traffic safety risks and air pollution.
The recommendation was also informed by transit accessibility and affordability. Analysis of other destination sites shows that paid parking helps increase parking turn-over and encourages efficient transportation decisions such as carpooling. Recognizing the limited transit options within the area, implementing parking at an affordable rate in peak season with reduced off-season parking charges maintains affordability and accessibility.
In addition, the implementation of paid parking aligns with the Park Board’s ‘Think Big’ Revenue Strategy PDF file (2.7 MB), approved in July 2023. Revenue generated through the pilot will provide funding for the safety, security, and cleanliness of our parks and facilities, including at Spanish Banks Beach.
In conjunction with the Park Board, the City plans to install paid parking along NW Marine Drive from Blanca Street to W 4th Avenue. New on-street paid parking would be charged at a rate of $1/ hour and would be in effect between 9am and 10pm from May 1 to Labour Day in September. To manage potential impacts to parking within the neighbourhood, the City will survey households on the local streets to gauge support for the implementation of residential permit parking. This will help to reserve space for residents while also accommodating their visitors and service providers.
The enforcement of paid parking at Spanish Banks Beach Park will run from 9am to 10pm to enable free parking and improved access for early morning visitors.
For more information on parking in Vancouver, visit vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/parking
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When you consider that more and more families are being squished into small condos with no green or play space and the one place they can go for a great day out is the beach, to suddenly have to pay for the day’s outing seems only adding insult to injury. The science behind spending time outdoors and in nature is clear. It makes for a healthier society. It makes no sense to put further barriers in the way of people struggling to live in Vancouver and increases the gap between the haves and have nots.
Absolutely disgusting! Another pathetic and discriminatory attempt to force people out of their cars by charging for parking when getting to Spanish Banks currently requires private transport. A horrendous mistake on the part of our local Park Board that will restrict equitable access to a public park due to cost, which will decrease tourism and its assets, limiting the usage of that public space to only the most well-to-do who live nearby and can walk to the beach. Shame, shame on our Park Board! This pay-for-parking money-grab will prevent me from continuing to go to this beach/park and will eliminate the abundant wedding, sports and barbecue family gatherings altogether. This is yet another example of how our city has fallen to wreck and ruin at the hands of incompetent representatives who are completely out of touch with their constituents. A disgrace!
People are wondering who will be profiting from the pay parking? Is the money going into the “general revenue” abyss, or will it benefit the people in the neighbourhood surrounding Spanish Banks beach?
this will cost more to administer than the revenue it will produce, won’t it? So much for relaxing, now we will have to
worry even on the beach. Who asked them to alleviate our parking search? It was never a problem. On sunny days it will be busy. We deal. CoV get your hands out of our pockets already!!!