Trees may soon honour the dead in Vancouver parks

You've no doubt sat on many a bird-poop-stained park bench bearing a plaque honouring someone who died.

In Vancouver, dedicating a park bench will cost you $4,000 for 10 years or $25,000 for a permanent legacy.

Vision Vancouver park commish Catherine Evans wants to create a more affordable way for residents to memorialize their loved ones in city parks.

Evans has put a motion on notice on the agenda for the next park board meeting on Monday (May 11) that calls for park board staff to report by September on options for establishing a commemorative tree and shrub planting program.

Such a program would respond to "reasonable requests of residents of Vancouver", deliver plantings at a "reasonable cost", and help increase the number of trees in the city.

"The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation receives many requests each year from Vancouver residents wishing to commemorate a life event or other significant occasion by planting a tree or shrub in a public park," the proposed motion's preamble states.

"Commemorative tree and shrub plantings are a common practice in many other municipalities and provide a long lasting tribute at a more affordable cost than a bench or picnic table," it continues.