New park at Smithe and Richards Vancouver
- Parks and recreation
- Arts and culture
- Things to do

New park at Smithe and Richards
The Vancouver Park Board is developing a new 0.8-acre park in the downtown core at the intersection of Smithe and Richards streets.
The new park will:
- Serve as a place for community recreation, culture, and tranquility in the bustling neighbourhood
- Improve the liveability of the area and our city
- Help us achieve the Greenest City Action Plan goal to increase access to nature
A growing neighbourhood
The new 0.8-acre park will serve over 10,000 residents and 17,000 employees within a five-minute walk to the park site and include a:
- Small café space and public washrooms
- Community plaza with a decorative water feature and seating throughout
- Pedestrian bridge and promontory extending into the Smithe Street right-of-way
- Children’s playground
- New trees, shrubs and perennials
- Over-head sky-frames that will support lighting and ephemeral installations
What’s happening?
The Park Board remains committed to delivering this exciting new downtown park.
The new park design was approved by Park Board Commissioners in May 2016. Since then, staff have evolved the detailed design and in May 2018 received development and building permits.
The board received pricing from pre-qualified contractors in September 2018. However, the bids exceeded the project budget.
In early 2019, staff will select a construction manager from one of the pre-qualified contractors who will work with a design consultant to revise the design and deliver the project within the Park Board’s construction budget. This will delay construction. It is estimated that construction will begin in fall 2019.
In the meantime, Easy Park will continue leasing the site and operating it as a parking lot until construction begins.
In-depth
Find out where the park will go, and how we'll plan and engage with you. Access project documents and related policies.
Past updates
Find out what's happened so far on this project to develop a new park downtown.
Post Your Comment: