Vancouver park board begins reopening parking lots at most beaches and parks

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      Vancouverites will be able to park to their vehicles at most outdoor public spaces across the city once again.

      After closing playgrounds throughout the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park board closed parking lots and outdoor recreational spaces on March 22 to reduce attendance numbers at parks and beaches and to ensure physical distancing.

      The park board reopened three golf courses, VanDusen Botanical Garden, and tennis and pickleball courts earlier this month.

      In conjunction with B.C.’s move toward reopening various sectors of the province, the Vancouver park board announced today (May 22) that it has begun reopening most of the parking lots at parks and beaches across the city, as well as roadways in Queen Elizabeth Park.

      Pay parking and enforcement will be in effect at pay parking lots.

      However, parking-lot closures in Stanley Park and at English Bay will remain, along with vehicle-access closures in the park and along Beach Avenue.

      The park board closed vehicle access to Stanley Park as of April 8, and the City of Vancouver closed the eastbound lanes on Beach Avenue on April 9 to provide more room for pedestrians and cyclists.

      The measures were intended to prevent overcrowding in these areas and to provide more space for residents in the densely populated West End to get outside during the pandemic.

      The park board also stated that some parking lots at community centres and parks will remain closed for operational reasons.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.  

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