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CTV News
11 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Paid parking made permanent at Spanish Banks, rate increased to $1.50 an hour
The Vancouver Park Board has voted to make paid parking permanent at Spanish Banks, while increasing the rate by 50 cents. The new rate of $1.50 per hour aligns with Vancouver's updated minimum for on-street parking, which was increased in November. According to a report presented at Monday's board meeting, the paid parking pilot project at Spanish Banks brought in $168,000 between July 2024 and May 2025, surpassing the city's revenue expectations by more than $45,000. Staff anticipate the increased rate will bring in $225,000 in net revenue annually. The decision to impose paid parking at the popular beach has been controversial, with a petition for free access gathering around 8,500 signatures, but Commissioner Tom Digby noted that maintaining the city's public spaces comes at a significant cost. 'I have to emphasize, it's so expensive to run any park,' Digby told CTV News ahead of Monday's vote. 'We have spent $1 million last year putting in a water pipeline so Spanish Banks west could have flush toilets and have showers.' The motion passed, with an amendment that would allow for 'seasonal pricing (to be) incorporated for the off-season.' Only two commissioners, Jas Virdi and Angela Haer, voted against permanent parking fees at Spanish Banks. 'I feel like we're charging for everything, and there just needs to be a balance,' Virdi said before the meeting. 'People need activities to enjoy that don't cost anything.' Commissioners supporting the motion also pointed out there are still areas with free parking across the city, including Sunset Community Centre and Trout Lake Community Centre. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Martin MacMahon
CBC
13 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Paid parking now permanent at Vancouver's Spanish Banks, with rate increase
Social Sharing Paid parking is now a permanent fixture at Vancouver's Spanish Banks following a 12-month pilot project, with the hourly rate rising from $1 to $1.50. The motion that passed at Monday's Vancouver Park Board meeting also asked that seasonal pricing be offered in the off-season, although it remains to be determined what the off-season rate will be and when it will take effect. The pilot project faced public backlash when it was proposed last year. A petition asking the board to reconsider its plan received more than 1,000 signatures. Spanish Banks, located in Vancouver's Point Grey neighbourhood, was the last beach in Vancouver to have free parking. The pilot project followed a previous effort by the board to implement pay parking in 2018, which was shot down following public backlash. WATCH | Beachgoers in 2024 react to potential pay parking at Spanish Banks: 'Better off free': beachgoers react to potential pay parking at Spanish Banks 1 year ago Duration 0:40 Spanish Banks is the last beach in Vancouver to have free parking — but the Vancouver Park Board may end that. Now, a petition has been launched to try to keep pay parking away from the popular beach in West Point Grey. The pilot project, which ran from July 2024 to May 2025, generated around $168,000 in revenue, according to a report by city staff. Jas Virdi was one of two park board commissioners who voted against the motion. "This was that one last place in Vancouver that everyone could enjoy," Virdi said during Monday's meeting. "It was very low barrier, it was a place for families to come out and enjoy it for free. And there's not much that's free for children and our seniors these days." Commissioner Tom Digby argued that charging for parking will help recoup maintenance costs for the area, including the recent multimillion-dollar project to restore Canyon Creek and costs to maintain dog parks. "The 90 per cent of the people in the city that don't go to Spanish Banks, I think that they need to know that there's a fairness across the city," Digby said. "The people that go to Spanish Banks get the benefit of a wonderful park and one of the most unique and stunning off-leash areas in the world." The new rate will go into effect in the next few weeks.
