The Vancouver park board has escalated its dispute with City Hall by sending a formal letter to Mayor Ken Sim, demanding that he and city council cease making promises about spending plans for projects on park land that are not included in the board's own priorities. The letter, accompanied by a legal opinion, asserts that the park board holds exclusive jurisdiction over park property decisions, including infrastructure improvements.
Legal Opinion Affirms Park Board Authority
The legal opinion included in the letter affirms that under the Vancouver Charter, the park board is the sole legal body empowered to make decisions on how park property will be used. This includes any improvements to infrastructure such as pools, community centres, and other recreational facilities. The board argues that the mayor's public commitments to specific projects create confusion and may influence how voters decide on an upcoming infrastructure capital referendum in the fall municipal election.
Park board commissioner Tom Digby stated that the mayor has been making statements about projects that are not part of the board's approved plans. “The mayor has been making statements about certain swimming pools and community centres, stating affirmatively they are going to be included in the plan,” Digby said. He added that while the mayor can choose not to fund certain projects, he cannot add new ones without board approval.
Disconnect on Priority Projects
Both the city and the park board have committed to addressing aging infrastructure, including pools and community centres. The park board has requested $1.43 billion from the city to fund this work. However, there is a clear disconnect on which projects are priorities. The park board has approved new pools for Mount Pleasant and Marpole, renewals of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, improvements to Kitsilano pool, and overhauls of Kensington and Hastings community centres.
In May, Mayor Sim announced a 25-metre pool at Sunset Park and identified five community centres as priorities for renewal, including Kerrisdale, Dunbar, and the Roundhouse. None of these are among the park board's listed priorities. Digby noted that the park board is not disputing the city's right to set the budget for parks in its upcoming 2027-2030 capital plan, due to be released in late July. “The mayor can cross stuff off he doesn’t want to pay for, but he can’t just add stuff in,” he said.
Mayor's Office Responds
In a statement, the mayor's office acknowledged receipt of the letter. “We have received the letter from Commissioner Digby. The letter and opinion affirm council’s exclusive role in determining funding for capital projects. Mayor Sim and council will continue to communicate their funding priorities,” the statement read. This response suggests that the city views the funding decisions as within its purview, despite the park board's legal claims.
Park Board Seeks Meeting, Warns of Public Confusion
Digby said the park board has repeatedly requested a meeting with the mayor to discuss priorities, but has not been successful. He called the situation a betrayal of public trust, warning that it could lead to confusion among voters in the fall election. “We need the public to vote on this capital plan, including the size of the budget and the specific projects included in that,” Digby said. He emphasized the need for clarity on which park board infrastructure and amenities will be part of the plan that voters will weigh in on.
Under the Vancouver Charter, the park board has exclusive jurisdiction and control over Vancouver parks, including the right to determine improvements to recreational facilities within the parks, unless there is legislative change. This legal framework underpins the board's position in the escalating dispute.
