The Vancouver Park Board began reopening the majority of parking lots at parks and beaches today and plans to have many open by Sunday, May 24.
Parking lots at parks and beaches were closed in mid-March as part of the Park Board’s overall effort to support physical distancing, reduce crowding at destination parks and beaches, and encourage use of neighbourhood parks.
The reopening of public parking includes 7,000 stalls at beaches and parks across the city, including the roadways at Queen Elizabeth Park.
The Park Boards says its reopening is in alignment with the BC Restart Plan, and that it carefully considered the decision. It adds that parking at beaches and parks is also important for ensuring everyone has access to these spaces, particularly residents with mobility challenges.
Pay parking and enforcement will be in effect at the pay lots and visitors are urged to keep a safe distance from others of at least two metres while exiting their vehicles and visiting beaches and parks.
While the weather wasn't great every day over the long weekend in Vancouver, Victoria Day offered ideal conditions for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the city's beaches and parks.
With that being said, this weekend's photos and videos posted by locals show many people practicing safe physical distancing, but there were still some instances where they weren't.
Over Mother's Day weekend, the weather was markedly hotter, with a whopping 17 records weather records smashed B.C.-wide. Of course, the sizzling daily highs lured Vancouverites out to local beaches in droves over that weekend. There is signage directing beach-goers to maintain a safe, two-metre physical distance from one another, but a number of photos taken at beaches over Mother's Day weekend had some people questioning if the rule is being followed.
As a result of the Mother's Day weekend crowding, the Board of Parks and Recreation revealed Monday, May 11 they would, "not be reopening parking lots at beaches and parks in the coming days as a result of a decrease in public compliance with physical distancing."
On Mother's Day weekend alone, Park Board Rangers issued over 1,880 warnings to park and beach-goers who were not in compliance.
The Park Board says it will continue to review the possible reopening other facilities and services and will, "make adjustments to its operations based on the latest information provided by Vancouver Coastal Health, the Provincial Health Officer, and industry partners."
For more information about the status of services and facilities impacted by COVID-19, please visit HERE.
- With files from Lindsay William-Ross.
