Park board approves year-round pay parking at Vancouver’s Spanish Banks

Year-round pay parking is coming to one of Vancouver’s most popular beaches.

The Vancouver Park Board approved a one-year pay parking pilot at Spanish Banks at its Monday meeting.

Ahead of the vote, Parks Commissioner Tom Digby said the city was looking at a “small, reasonable charge that’s not excessive.”

0:31 Paid parking now in effect at 3 popular West Vancouver parks

“We are looking at that on whether it is a reasonable solution,” he told Global News.

“It is the only free place for city parking and people may say, ‘Shouldn’t we keep that privilege?’ But the city has asked us to increase our revenues, the system for running the parks is very expensive, so we’re looking at that carefully.”

City staff recommended the fees to improve accessibility and reduce traffic impacts in the neighbourhood while improving pedestrian safety and vehicle security and generating revenue.

2:00 Permanent pay parking coming to Lynn Canyon Park

The change will take effect in July, at a rate of $1 per hour during the summer and a reduced fee during the off-season.

The city estimates parking would generate about $70,000 per year in revenue.