British Columbia
Population: 646,700¹
- Vancouver is one of 28% of cities with a biodiversity strategy.
- Vancouver reported the most park groups at 111 groups.
- Vancouver had the second highest number of volunteers relative to population at nearly 9 volunteers per thousand people.
- The Park Board is piloting “no-mow areas” in 18 city parks to support pollinator habitats in a creative response to reduced operational capacities due to COVID-19.
- Alcohol consumption may soon be permitted in 22 Vancouver parks, after the park board approved a new plan in summer 2020.
- A new mural project called Blanketing the City is coming to Vancouver’s Cathedral Square. Featuring the work of Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam artists, the project involves “the first large-scale public art collaboration between weaving artists.”
2.1
ha parkland per 1000 people
1343 ha of total parkland
35%
of total parkland is natural area
473 total ha
12%
of total city land is parkland
11,497 ha of total city area
39
dog parks
38
Community gardens/urban farms
1.1 ha / 1,000
Parkland provision goal (distance to park / ha per 1000 people)
8.7
volunteers / 1000 people
5,618 total
111
community park groups
No
Policy to waive permit fees for groups with financial need.
$79
Parks operating budget per person
$51,200,000 total
$112,300,000
Total parks capital budget
$978,330
Total philanthropy/sponsorships
Mixed
Provincially legislated tools available for parkland dedication, acquisition and/or development
Vancouver is governed by the Vancouver Charter, which provides the city the ability to collect for parkland costs through Community Amenity Contributions (in-kind or cash contributions granted to the city by a developer as part of a rezoning process) or Development Cost Levies, which are based on development square footage.
¹2016 data *The city does not have the power to create ESAs, however there are 1413 ha of biodiversity zones and 129 ha of no-mow areas within the city.
