Pay parking is coming to Spanish Banks although the Vancouver Park Board is modifying its plans in response to “extensive public feedback.”
In November, the park board approved a plan to implement pay parking at Spanish Banks during peak season, from April 1 to Sept. 30.
In a release, the board says it will shorten the period by six weeks, beginning on the May long weekend and ending on Labour Day.
The decision to begin charging $3.50 per hour or $13 a day for parking at Spanish Banks beaches was met with backlash. An online petition against the proposed paid parking has collected more than 11,000 signatures.
“How on earth has the Park Board managed for all these years while Spanish Banks has been free? Is there some other reason their budget requires this new source of income?” reads part of the petition.
The board said parking will remain free during the off-season, and that there will be free early morning parking between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. during peak season.
A season pass will be available for $87.
“I wanna be hopeful,” said David Fine, who started the petition. “They showed a willingness to respond and that’s a great thing, but I’d like to continue the dialogue.”
Fine said he will reach out to the board in the days to come to continue talks and continue to push for free parking.
— With files from Beth Mariam