Strathcona Park Updates

A recent UBC report rated Vancouver’s greenspaces using three categories that promote mental well-being: refuge, wild nature and diversity. Strathcona Park received the lowest Aggregated Vulnerability Score in the entire city. Click to read the report. Despite that, there are no plans in the works for even minor improvements. According to park planners, “As you know, we didn’t receive significant funding for park renewal in the Capital Plan and need to be strategic with so many competing priorities.”

The 2023-2026 Capital Plan did allocate $107 million for Park Amenities, noting that: “Many neighbourhood parks are showing their age. The critical program to renew and
enhance older parks to continue to provide park amenities to residents will continue, with
potential locations identified at John Hendry (Trout Lake) and Strathcona.”

On other fronts, the four tennis courts have been closed since a sinkhole opened under the south courts in 2022. Repair “has been delayed due to complications with the underground utilities and necessary permits. Park Board’s engineering staff hope to see infrastructure repairs start early next year before the court surface is replaced, with the aim to have people playing again by summer 2024.” They received our petition requesting one or two of the courts be converted to pickleball and have been told that “there’s an opportunity in this schedule for our staff to consider the possibility of incorporating pickleball. The Vancouver Pickleball Association has offered to the expense of converting two of the four courts into eight pickleball courts.

The six sports field night lights over the gravel soccer field along Raymur were recently disconnected and removed due to safety issues. “Park Board staff will review next steps for replacement of the impacted equipment. An update on when the lights will be reinstalled and operational will be communicated as soon as we are able.”