The Vancouver Park Board has voted on Queen Elizabeth Park being the most suitable location for a new love locks sculpture.
The board conducted a public consultation on what the city should do after calls for a permanent home for the love locks.
The love locks, which couples attach to fences or railings to commemorate their love and commitment to one another, are very popular in Europe, especially in Paris, where authorities had to take down thousands of padlocks affixed to the famed Pont des Arts bridge this summer after a chunk of fencing fell off under their weight.
In Vancouver, lovers used to attach their locks to the railings of the Burrard Bridge, but they were removed in 2013 over fears of structural damage. They re-appeared on the seawall of Northeast False Creek, but they were also removed.
READ MORE: Vancouver declares it’s splitsville for love locks on Burrard Bridge
In July, NPA councillor George Affleck called on the city to find a permanent place for the locks.
It was decided that the Vancouver Park Board should hire a local artist to create a custom and structurally safe love locks sculpture for Vancouver Parks.
The public consultation that took place between August 19 and September 16 asked residents to vote for one of thirteen suggested park locations. Feedback regarding the overall support for the sculpture was also collected.
WATCH: The City of Vancouver is hoping to get ahead of a new tradition by lovers that has caused problems in other cities. Nadia Stewart explains.
In total, 2,097 surveys were completed and showed that 57 per cent of respondents liked the idea.
The greatest number of votes went to English Bay Beach Park (33 per cent), Queen Elizabeth Park (24 per cent), and Kitsilano Beach Park (23 per cent).
However, the board says both English Bay Beach Park and Kitsilano Beach Park are known as traditional First Nations lands.
“Archaeological sensitivity is very high in these parks. There is strong cultural connection to these locations and the Park Board is currently collaborating with representatives from the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations,” said the board’s recommendation. “Initial discussions with staff and the First Nations confirm that, of the top three locations, the only suitable location for the sculpture is in Queen Elizabeth Park.”
The board also considered public use and environmental concerns before suggesting Queen Elizabeth Park as the best location for a love locks sculpture.
“We are concerned about sensitive environmental areas with people discarding the keys,” says Commissioner John Coupar. “The idea is to create something that is safe and still fun.”
Staff will now start a process to hire an artist to design and build the love locks sculpture. The board wants the design to be unique to Vancouver and complement the specific place that it is located in.
Coupar says the new sculpture should arrive in the next nine to 12 months.
There is no word on the cost yet.
With files from Amy Judd
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